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With the wave of extreme rise in temperatures and humidity, it may be beyond your ability to bear the difficulty of the weather that increases exposure to heat stress. Some people may also suffer from high blood pressure indicators in conjunction with these hot weather conditions, which appear in the form of unusual signs between increased heart rate, excessive sweating, and cold extremities of the hands and feet. You may even notice blood spots in the eyes. This happens especially in people who already suffer from heart problems. As for women who have to face the troubles and symptoms of the menstrual cycle every month, they may notice a group of changes that have occurred in the menstrual cycle in light of the harsh heat. Therefore, we will present to you through our next article 4 types of effects caused by high temperatures on the menstrual cycle.
How does temperature affect the menstrual cycle?
How does temperature affect the menstrual cycle?
Since every female will have a monthly date with her menstrual cycle, it must be known that climate changes have an impact on the menstrual cycle in women, as bleeding begins to appear in the period ranging from 21 to 35 days, and with the increase in temperature, the features of the change will be completely opposite. What happens during the winter, when the temperature drops, which weakens or limits blood flow, the relationship between the change of seasons and the menstrual cycle has been explored, and this appears more clearly in teenage girls or women who have reached the stage of menopause, as both of them suffer from the effect of lack of blood flow. Hormonal balance. In light of the many ways in which extreme heat affects people’s health, the effect on the menstrual cycle is one of the effects that we will discuss as follows:
Different patterns of the effect of extreme heat on the menstrual cycle
1- Differences in the duration of the menstrual cycle
Difference in menstrual cycle duration
Usually, menstrual bleeding for most women ranges between 3 to 5 days and can last up to 7 days. In some women, as a result of extremely hot climates, a number of changes may occur in the duration of the menstrual cycle, causing an increase in the number of days to become longer than usual. While others find that they have become shorter, this all stems from the effects of heat on the hormonal system that lays the foundations for regulating the menstrual cycle.
2- Irregular menstrual cycle
Irregular menstrual cycle
One of the most prominent menstrual disorders is when your menstrual cycle becomes irregular, and this is accompanied by the woman suffering from a number of accompanying symptoms, including excessive amounts of menstrual bleeding on normal days, and it is possible for the woman to witness periods of bleeding outside of the menstrual cycle times, with an increased degree of complaint of pain. Acute and chronic pain in the lower abdomen. This is due to the resulting thermal stress caused by the intense heat, which causes irregularity in the menstrual cycle. The harsh climatic conditions cause instability in the hormonal system, which has an impact on the date of menstruation.
3- Increasing severity of symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle
Increased severity of menstrual symptoms
How will you feel with more fatigue, physical exhaustion, and general weakness? This is common for girls to experience with menstruation in general, but the effect of heat may make the symptoms worsen and become worse beyond what you can bear, as you have to deal with painful cramps in the abdomen in addition to mood swings and all. This is a result of high temperatures that increase vulnerability to drought.
4- Profuse sweating and dehydration
Profuse sweating
Although sweating is a healthy, physiological matter linked to maintaining body temperature through the release of secretions laden with salts and chemicals in the form of falling drops, excessive sweating is a worrying matter as it can cause dehydration as a result of the loss of body fluids, which may make a woman… She suffers from low blood pressure with a feeling of dizziness and vertigo, in addition to the expected effect on the menstrual cycle
Read also: How does the menstrual cycle affect skin health?
Factors causing the effect of extreme heat on the menstrual cycle
1- Heat stress
Heat stress
With excessive exposure to waves of extreme heat, the body will be negatively affected, and this effect will take the form of heat stress, which is accompanied by an increase in the body’s cortisol hormone indicators, which is the primary stress hormone that is released in response to stress, and this can cause imbalances in the degree of stability and hormonal balance.
2- Changes in lifestyles
It cannot be overlooked that the summer season is associated with a number of changes in lifestyles, as it is in complete contrast to winter, where it is seclusion and stillness, as the summer atmosphere is full of movement and activity, as travel trips increase, and your daily routine and diet also witness changes, all of which has an impact on the menstrual cycle.
3- Changes in physical activities
Changes in physical activities
Many girls feel energetic and have a strong desire to engage in activities and exercises in the summer. With increased interest, the number of hours you spend exercising in hot climates can increase, which creates intense stress on your body that negatively affects your menstrual cycle.
4- Unbalanced eating habits
In contrast to the winter season, where the rate of burning calories in the body decreases with a lack of outdoor activities, the summer season is associated with changes in diet and a decrease in appetite for heavy fatty foods, and thus the nutrients necessary for the health of the reproductive organs will be exposed to deficiency, and this can affect the menstrual cycle.
Symptoms related to the effect of extreme heat on the menstrual cycle
Symptoms of the effect of heat on the menstrual cycle
- Disturbances in menstrual bleeding rates include features of the change that are either heavy or very light, unlike usual
- Painful abdominal cramps as menstrual pain becomes more severe
- Poor psychological state, which is evident through severe mood swings that raise levels of stress and anxiety
- Excessive sweating and severe dehydration in women cause an increased feeling of fatigue and exhaustion
How to prevent the effect of heat on the menstrual cycle
- Drink more water and fluids to keep the body hydrated
- Incorporate fruits and vegetables into your healthy diet to compensate for missing vitamins
- Avoid adding large amounts of salt to your meals as it leads to water retention in the body
