Our advice to withstand (a little better) the high temperatures announced in July 2022, from Paris to Biarritz via Brittany.

If you have felt headaches, nausea, muscle cramps in recent days, you may have had a heat stroke. For the past few days, France (and neighboring countries such as Great Britain) have been experiencing a heat wave and temperature records. 39 in Paris, 38 in Lyon, 32 in Marseille… Temperatures said to be real and not felt - which in this case, can go up to 50 in Biarritz.

“Fun” fact (emphasis on the quotation marks on the word fun): the official heat record was recorded in Death Valley, California, in the summer of 1913: 56,7° in the air. In France, the national record for the highest temperature dates from only… Three years ago, 46° in June 2019 in Vérargues (in Occitanie).

Faced with the predicted heatwaves in July 2022, official websites such as those of the fire brigade or the ARS (Regional Health Agency) list some essential preventative measures such as drinking plenty of water, wetting the body and using a fan, not drinking alcohol, eating enough, avoiding physical exertion, keeping your house cool by closing the shutters during the day and ventilating at night, and of course checking on loved ones and especially the elderly.

We are more or less aware of the risks to physical health, but according to a study reported by The Guardian , heatwaves also affect mental health. The number of people requiring psychiatric emergency care increases, particularly during periods of intense heat. This heat also boosts cortisol levels—the stress hormone. Why? The body naturally lowers its temperature by increasing the heart rate (to circulate blood), which inevitably raises blood pressure and therefore, cortisol levels. Finally, during a heatwave, sleep can be more restless. While it is recommended to sleep in a room between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius, with minimum temperatures of 25°C, nights are more restless (and shorter!), which promotes cortisol production and thus a temporary level of irritability and/or aggression.

More than 14.000 hectares have already burned in Gironde in mid-July 2022. And the temperatures well above seasonal averages (and therefore the drought) make control even more difficult.

On his Instagram account, @hugoclementk reveals that, on average, between 10.000 hectares of forest and vegetation go up in smoke each year. In 2022, this figure had already reached 30.000 hectares by mid-year. If climate change worries you to the point of causing daily anxiety, you may be suffering from eco-anxiety (or solastalgia). This syndrome is affecting a growing number of young people (50% of 16-25 year olds according to a study published in The Lancet ), who, feeling helpless, find the future frightening and struggle to imagine what it will be like by 2030.

Interested in this topic ?

Follow the next episodes of HO KALM, in which we will discuss the subject of eco-anxiety and its impact on mental health.

In the meantime, a short non-exhaustive list of our best tips for cooling off in Paris and elsewhere during peak temperatures.

- Drink between 2 and 2,5 liters of water a day :
No more to avoid hyponatremia, the "decreased concentration of sodium in the blood" due to excessive water consumption - especially in people at risk (diabetes, chronic illnesses, elderly people, etc.) - which puts keeps the Ministries of Solidarity and Health.
To vary the pleasures, alternate between water (at room temperature, to prevent the body from overheating unnecessarily) and herbal infusions. Of course, avoid alcohol, a source of dehydration, and find plans B as an aperitif: the lemon Perrier is good, a CBD cocktail it's even more fun!

- Prioritize green spaces:
In many large cities in the summer, parks are open until midnight. In Paris for example, the Buttes Chaumont, the square Boucicaut, the Jardin Villemin... On very hot days according to paris.fr, some spaces remain open 24 hours a day for insomniacs looking for fresh air: Parc Monceau, Montholon, André Citroën, Clichy Batignolle - Martin Luther King, etc.
Good to know: 10 minutes a day in green spaces would be beneficial for mental health according to researchers at Drexel University. These show that in contact with nature, the risk of depression decreases, and the desire to eat a balanced diet increases. The good plan: parks, gardens, water fountains, misters… the site of the town hall of Paris lists all the islands of freshness in the capital if you are outside.

- Sleep well :
Difficult yes, under 30°. But don't neglect your sleep! Keep the space where you sleep dark during the day and ventilated at night. At bedtime, keep a damp cloth on you to cool your body temperature. And avoid screens, which not only will slow down sleep with blue lights, but may also heat up on a bed! Read a few pages of a book or listen to a podcast, and if insomnia is really on the way, take a few drops ofAbsolute Antidote 10%, our most powerful CBD treatment that will help you relax and make you fall into the arms of Morpheus.

- A minimum of skincare:
Who says heat says perspiration, including on the face! If you wear make-up, be sure to opt for the lightest possible make-up: BB cream instead of covering foundation, waterproof mascara... On the skincare side, continue to moisturize your skin to protect it from external aggressions such as pollution and preserve the hydrolipidic film: with the Narcotic Cream or if necessary, in the form of a mask, the Miracle Balm (ideal after sun exposure to calm redness and soothe the skin). Do not skimp on the deodorant, provided it is clean and not “anti-perspirant”: the deodorant masks the good smells, the anti-perspirant acts on the flow of perspiration (which is natural, and helps to regulate body temperature). The difference between the two ? Their composition. The formulation of a deodorant will be much more natural and without aluminum salts or alcohol. the deodorant deodorant for example, eliminates bad odors naturally thanks to purifying zinc and sanitizing hemp terpenes. It is also effective for a whole day! Finally think more than ever about double cleaning to eliminate perspiration and pollution residues, which will avoid blemishes when you wake up.

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