Does hot weather make you sleepy?

If the warmth of the sun hitting your skin makes you want to take a nap, that’s a sign your body is doing its job – whether it’s protecting you from dehydration, preventing your body from overheating or naturally reacting to sunlight exposure.

Dehydration

“Hot and sunny weather causes your body to lose extra fluids through sweating,” explains Joe Pignotti, a family medicine physician assistant at Aurora Health Care. “If those body fluids are not replenished by drinking water, your body becomes dehydrated.”

Pignotti says this may cause a drop in blood pressure and decreased blood flow to the brain, heart and lungs which can cause fatigue. In severe cases, it can result in death.

“Common initial symptoms of dehydration include thirst, headache, dry mouth or lips, less frequent urination and dark colored urine,” says Pignotti. “Young children and older adults are especially at risk.”

Sunburn

The body already uses energy to maintain a normal body temperature. When your skin is exposed to the sun or you have a sunburn, Pignotti says your body temperature raises, causing your body to use even more energy to cool down.

Serotonin

Exposure to sunlight increases the release of serotonin from the brain. The hormone has many mood-boosting benefits and is essential to the production of melatonin.

“Melatonin is a hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycle so the increase in serotonin from a sunny day will help you get a better night’s rest,” explains Pignotti.

So, before you head out the door to enjoy the next sunny day, don’t forget to grab a water bottle, apply sunscreen and limit your time outdoors.

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