Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, May 23: As summer temperatures rise, health experts are cautioning that the most dangerous heat exposure may not occur during the day—but at night, when the body is supposed to recover.

At night, the human body naturally lowers its core temperature to support rest, recovery, and cardiovascular stability. However, when nighttime temperatures remain high, this cooling process is disrupted, leaving the body under continuous heat stress even during sleep.

According to Arvind K. Minz, sustained nighttime heat prevents proper recovery and can place significant strain on multiple organs.

He explained that prolonged exposure to heat during sleep leads to continuous sweating, fluid and electrolyte loss, and increased cardiovascular workload. Over time, this disrupts sleep cycles, impairs cognition, and weakens immune function.

Doctors warn that this condition can quietly escalate into serious health risks, including heatstroke, kidney injury, stroke, and in severe cases, death—especially when the body is unable to cool down for consecutive nights.

Experts say vulnerable groups face the highest risk, including older adults, children, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and people with chronic illnesses. Ageing reduces the body’s ability to regulate temperature effectively, while children dehydrate faster and patients with existing health conditions have reduced physiological reserves to cope with heat stress.

To reduce risk, doctors recommend simple preventive measures such as staying well hydrated, using fans or ventilation to keep rooms cool, wearing light clothing, avoiding heavy meals at night, and taking cool showers before bedtime. They also stress the importance of monitoring vulnerable individuals closely during heatwaves.

Health professionals emphasise that prolonged “hot nights” are not just uncomfortable—they are a growing public health concern linked to climate change and rising global temperatures.