Florida Heat

No, not the Miami Heat of basketball, the heat of a 77-degree temperature at 8:30 AM. We’re entering the sandal time of year, when the shoes and socks disappear and the sandal come out of the closet—so comfortable—like a nice dream. 

On the other side of that coin, it means that we need to bring some type of shirt to wear when we go into retailers and restaurants. The temperature difference when it gets to the upper eighties or lower nineties, combined with the high humidity (80 percent today; winds @ 13 mph) creates a chilling effect as when you walk into a freezer. Up north, we wear jackets to go out. In Florida, we wear jackets to go in.

Many will change their running habits from the street to the gym to avoid heat disorders. Heat-related illnesses indication include heat rash, heat cramps, dizziness or fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and can make existing medical conditions worse. 

Avoid overexertion in hot weather, especially in the Florida sun. I discovered that my first year here. I took a three-mile mid-morning run. That afternoon, it felt as is removed all the energy form my body. It took a couple of days to return to normal.

Although heat can cause problems for anyone, some have a greater risk of suffering heat related illness. 

People 65 and older

Babies

Young children

Nursing mothers

Pregnant women

People who consume certain medications

People who suffer from any of the following: heart disease, high blood pressure, or lung disease.

If you have any doubts if you need to be careful, check with your doctor before exercising in the summer heat, especially in hot, humid weather.