Sweating is the body’s natural mechanism to keep temperature at a level where physiological functions can continue
The “feels like” temperature in Delhi currently is 50 degrees – which is about 3-4 notches higher than what the thermometer is recording.
All of India, particularly the north and the east are in the throes of a heat wave that is killing people but what the “feels like” temperature means is that if you happen to be in the national capital right now, chances are you are feeling like you are inside a pressure cooker on high heat. You feel like you are in danger of being charred while you also sweat profusely.
That, is the important thing. The sweating. While most people find sweat difficult to deal with, almost a threat to personal hygiene, the truth is sweating is a very important coping mechanism of the body and the fact that one is releasing copious amounts of sweat means the body has water to lose in order to keep the temperature down. Optimum temperature is important for bodily functions to continue. In fact, one of the first signs that a person is developing a heat stroke is when they stop sweating.
“Proper and regular sweating plays a significant thermoregulatory role. It is a common perception that, sweating has other important homeostatic functions such as clearance of excessive micronutrients, waste products of metabolic processes, and toxins from the body, which helps to maintain human good health. In addition, sweating, thermotherapy, and sauna are commonly used to treat various diseases such as cardiovascular, respiratory and joint diseases,” Iranian researchers wrote in an article in 2020.
However excessive sweating can cause the body to lose valuable electrolytes which are important for maintenance of the optimum electrolyte balance in the body for bodily functions to continue. That is why it is important not just to keep drinking water but also have some drinks which are designed to replenish salts in the body – nimbu pani (lemon water), Shikanji and electral.
