Experts familiar with heat stroke point out that the heat is "as dangerous as a disaster" for those of us who have been refraining from living due to the effects of the new coronavirus. ..

It is said that this is because there is a possibility that muscle mass may have been lost due to self-restraint.

What exactly does that mean?

"Muscles are a reservoir of fluid, but in the last two years ..."

Professor Masuji Hattori, Hyogo College of Medicine


"Muscle is a storage of body fluid. The key word is whether or not there is muscle. Everyone has been refraining from living in Korona-ka, and muscle mass has decreased in the last two years. When it comes to heat, we're heading for an unthinkably dangerous time, just think of it as that time. "

What does heat have to do with muscles?

Professor Hattori says that muscles are important to prevent the body temperature from rising in high temperatures.



In the body, muscles also play a role in storing water.



However, it is said that it is easy to lead to dehydration because there is a possibility that muscle mass is reduced and the water stored in the body is also reduced due to self-restraint.



It is a mechanism that makes it difficult to sweat and regulate body temperature when dehydration occurs.



Therefore, as a countermeasure, it is important to train the lower body, which has particularly large muscles.

How to take measures against the heat with muscles that do not work overnight?

However, muscles do not build overnight.

We have summarized the measures that can be taken on a daily basis.

Controlling indoor temperature and humidity

First of all, it is important to control the temperature and humidity of the room.

It is a safe and comfortable environment to keep the

room temperature between 26 and 27 degrees Celsius and

the humidity between 60% and 70%



using an air conditioner .

I think that some people are not good at cooling and set the timer to expire after a few hours, but the temperature may not drop even at night or the temperature may rise sharply from the morning, so keep the air conditioner on during tropical nights. It means that you should control the temperature and humidity.






Hydration that is hard to notice with a mask More consciously

And wearing a mask makes it harder to notice thirst.



Professor Hattori


: "With a mask, it feels like the exhaled breath returns to your mouth. Therefore, you don't feel thirsty. By all means, take the mask once an hour to rehydrate. want"

Frequently called diligent hydration.

Specifically, you should drink at least 100 to 200 milliliters once every one or two hours.



Barley tea is recommended as a type of drink.


On the other hand, those containing caffeine and alcohol have a diuretic effect, so they do not necessarily provide hydration to prevent dehydration.



He said it was important to drink the same amount of water after drinking alcohol.

"Grow muscles by walking"

In addition, it is important to build a body that sweats properly.



When the body temperature rises, the blood vessels in the skin are expanded to increase blood flow, and heat is released from the surface of the body. In addition, sweat evaporates to remove heat and try to lower the body temperature.



However, this ability, "heat acclimatization," is to increase as you gradually get used to the heat over a period of about two weeks.

During this period of sudden temperature rise, "heat acclimatization" has not yet been completed, so the body cannot catch up, heat does not easily escape, and there is a high risk of heat stroke due to poor sweating.



Therefore, he said that it is important to sweat and grow muscles by walking in the relatively cool time of morning and evening in order to make the body easy to sweat.



If it is difficult, squatting at home or taking a long bath and sweating seems to have a certain effect.



Also, if you sweat on a daily basis, you may feel uncomfortable, so if you sweat, it is effective to wipe it with a wet towel.


It is said that it can be expected to have the effect of leaving moisture on the surface of the skin and removing heat when it evaporates.

"Use the air conditioner to save electricity"

Power saving is called out in various places in the heat of every day.



Still, I want you not to hesitate to use the air conditioner.



Hyogo College of Medicine Special Invited Professor Masuji Hattori


"Power saving is done by giving priority to other home appliances such as lighting, and this heat is life-threatening, so I want you to use the air conditioner properly."



(Osaka Broadcasting Station reporter) Akira Ono)