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Summer's no sweat for many What are the differences in the makeup of human bodies that cause some people to be invigorated by the extreme summer heat while others limp through summer sapped of strength and feeling generally unwell? -- Carol S., Ashland Got a few hours, Carol? Yours seemed like a simple question, but that was before we talked to Dr. Dave Gilmour, the county's public health officer. "There are so many factors here," he said. "That's why it's a simple question with no answer." That said, he agreed to try to answer it anyway. First, metabolism plays a huge role in how a body copes with high temperatures. Those who suffer from diabetes or thyroid problems usually have low tolerance to hot weather. And people who are obese have more difficulty physically when the mercury soars. Another reason some people may feel more tired in the heat is because they're dehydrated. "We should probably drink twice as much" in hot weather as we do otherwise, Gilmour said. When folks become dehydrated, they have a low level of electrolytes -- sodium and potassium -- in their bodies. This can make them feel rundown and listless. Electrolytes leave the body through sweat and are replenished through fluids. But not just any fluids, Gilmour said. The best stuff to drink is a sports drink high in sodium and potassium. It's possible to drink too much water and actually dilute the sodium and potassium in your body, he said. Then there's a person's ability to sweat. Sweating is good and lowers the body's temperature, Gilmour said. Some people may sweat profusely while some others are born without sweat glands. These people also have trouble in the heat. "Then there is the psychological component," Gilmour said. "People who grow up where it's hot all the time -- in the tropics or in areas that are very hot -- tend not to be bothered as much as people who live in temperate areas. "It can also be a matter of acclimation," he said. Or it can be cultural. Americans are obsessed with the weather, Gilmour noted. We watch or read forecasts daily, and we keep thermometers, barometers and rain measuring devices around our homes so we can quickly check the atmosphere. But in many other countries, he said, people don't care what the temperature is and are oblivious to such readings. (Send your questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; or by fax to (541) 776-4376; or by e-mail to: [email protected] Please include your name, address and phone number for verification.) Today's News Index Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA