Summer Myths
I have the truth behind three summer myths. We got this from the researchers at Rodale publications:
- Summer Myth #1: Going from a roasting hot day outside to a freezing air-conditioned room can make you get a cold. The truth: Temperature shifts DON’T make you sick. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, you’ll only get sick if you’re near other people who are sick and catch their germs. So if you’ve got a summer cold, it’s probably because, during a heat-wave, people spend more time indoors in air-conditioned comfort and that raises the odds of germs transferring from one person to the next.
- The next hot weather myth: The chlorine in the pool can make you lose your hair. The truth: Swimming laps or taking a dip in the pool may leave your hair coarse, dried out, maybe even green, but it won’t cause it to fall out. Chlorine can damage the outer layer of your hair – but it doesn’t damage the follicle. That’s according to dermatologist Dr. Pamela Bourelly. So if you swim a lot during the summer, wash with a clarifying shampoo and make sure you condition your hair each time you wash it.
- The third hot weather myth: Hot weather puts a strain on your heart. The truth? The rate of heart disease deaths peaks in WINTER. According to the Georgetown University department of medicine, cold weather causes blood vessels to constrict to help your body retain heat. That causes a spike in blood pressure and an increase in the risk of a heart attack. In the summer, blood vessels are more relaxed and stress levels drop. So you’re more likely to have lower blood pressure and less strain on your heart.
