Adjusting to the heat/humidity of the South

[kelminak]

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Hi there,

I recently moved from the Northwest to the Southeast for a post-bacc, and now I'll be moving even further south to start MS-1. If I'm completely honest, I am absolutely hating the climate and need some help getting over it. The humidity with the heat makes me feel like I'm being boiled alive. I hardly go outside unless it's around sunrise/sunset because the middle of the day is absolutely unbearable.

I need to get used to this because I'm obviously going to be here for 4+ years. Has anyone else made a similar transition and found ways to get acclimated? I can't continue to hide away every day during summer for the entirety of medical school and it puts a damper on my relationship when I never want to go outside unless the day is almost over.

Thank you!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

You adjust to the heat.
Likewise consider a combination of increased hydration and or if overweight, weight loss. I personally felt much more cool once I dropped 10 pounds this year.

 

[kelminak]

You adjust to the heat.
Likewise consider a combination of increased hydration and or if overweight, weight loss. I personally felt much more cool once I dropped 10 pounds this year.

I definitely put on a little weight during my post-bacc and I'm working to get rid of it, but I'm not obese. Maybe I just need to tough out being outside more frequently so it's not such a shock each time? I absolutely dread going outside at this point and I know it's going to get even worse, so I know I can't keep hiding forever.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I honestly still never go outside during the day before 5.

 

[SurgDoc95]

There’s no way to adjust other than learning to love the suffering that is humidity


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[TarpolianDynamite]

I've grown up in Florida and currently live in south Florida. You get used to it. Lots of water, athletic material shirts are a life saver and the shorter the shorts the better. Heck I even wear board shorts when I am just running errands or going out for a quick bite.

 

[It's lupus!]

I've lived the majority of my life in the south except for 8 months in Chicago. I'm gonna echo what others have already said. Losing weight really does help with tolerating heat which funny enough more time spent in the heat burns more calories, haha. Embrace the suck and eventually you kind of think, "hm this isn't so bad." Just gotta force yourself out. Lol.

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[austintr]

Yeah, humidity is basically the med school of weather. It sucks. But when you get used to it, it gets better. But it never really becomes "good". Then eventually you'll become powerful enough to leave.

 

[ortnakas]

Force yourself out. You won't get used to it until you're in it. And you'll spend so much time in the air conditioned indoors you want to train yourself to enjoy the bits of outdoor time you get.

Also, if you're a girl (or, I suppose, a male with long hair, I don't judge), hairspray is your friend.

 

[sunshinefl]

You don't. It’s intolerable. I’m a Florida baby and lived here all my life. Currently I’m in Fort Lauderdale and it’s even worse. Yes, there is variability within the state. I stay in the AC when it’s like this.

But... if you absolutely have to... hair up, shorts, hydrate, and embrace the suck. Don’t fight it. Don’t try to be comfortable. Just know that it’s disgusting, hot, terrible, you’re getting skin cancer, you’re covered in sweat, your hair/scalp is gross, and you have heat stroke.

 

[Tozanzibarbymotorcar]

You’ll adjust to the heat when you become a doctor and can afford air conditioning.

 

[deleted407021]

Born and raised in the swampy, sweltering Deep South and I still hate it.

 

[It's lupus!]

You’ll adjust to the heat when you become a doctor and can afford air conditioning.

Amazing response haha

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[ronglo]

I've lived in South Florida after living in the drier, colder North climates. I still hate the intense heat and humidity. The best thing you can do is wear thin clothing and stay hydrated. You learn to deal with it after a while, and naturally your body does acclimatize to the atmospheric change in temperature.

 

[BorntobeDO?]

I honestly still never go outside during the day before 5.

In the summer its more like 7 for me. Agree with avoiding the heat. Humidity sucks, but its supposedly good for your skin. I wouldn't know tho, I am the kind of guy who has a portable ac in case the main ac breaks. You won't catch me burning up.

 

[Hippocrates II]

I just moved to Kansas City for school and this sweltering, humid heat is killing me as well. I don't think I've slept a full night once since getting here, and that's with A/C going constantly.

 

[austintr]

I just moved to Kansas City for school and this sweltering, humid heat is killing me as well. I don't think I've slept a full night once since getting here, and that's with A/C going constantly.

Just hang in there a few months...autumn in KC is pretty dope. And then winter comes. And it sucks again.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I just moved to Kansas City for school and this sweltering, humid heat is killing me as well. I don't think I've slept a full night once since getting here, and that's with A/C going constantly.

I would call to get your AC checked out. Otherwise invest in something extra to keep you cool. In my opinion my building's AC was pretty adequate at keeping me nice and cool when I put it at 74 to 75.

 

[sunshinefl]

I would call to get your AC checked out. Otherwise invest in something extra to keep you cool. In my opinion my building's AC was pretty adequate at keeping me nice and cool when I put it at 74 to 75.

At my apartment I range from setting it at 66 to 69 degrees depending on time of day, outside temp, and what activity I’m doing. 75 is what I set it at when I’m out of the country for a couple weeks. Sheesh.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

At my apartment I range from setting it at 66 to 69 degrees depending on time of day, outside temp, and what activity I’m doing. 75 is what I set it at when I’m out of the country for a couple weeks. Sheesh.

68 is what I put it on when I go working out lol. Otherwise sitting on my butt or sleeping 74 is cool for me.

 

[Hippocrates II]

I would call to get your AC checked out. Otherwise invest in something extra to keep you cool. In my opinion my building's AC was pretty adequate at keeping me nice and cool when I put it at 74 to 75.

Nah A/C is fine, it's just an old house so it's not very tight and the humid air constantly leaks in, A/C running or not. I'm starting to sleep better though so I think I'm mostly through my adjustment period.

 

[DrMcLovin]

In the south the summers suck but winters are nice. In the north the winters suck but summers are nice. Pick your poison.

 

[DexterMorganSK]

Oh, the evil sun 🙂

 

[SLC]

Spend some time in Phoenix, I hear it’s about 120 right now. I once left my pharmacology bible in the car during class, and when I came out the cover had melted clean off.

 

[psd242]

Indoors. Always.

 

[Goro]

Spend some time in Phoenix, I hear it’s about 120 right now. I once left my pharmacology bible in the car during class, and when I came out the cover had melted clean off.

But it's a dry heat!

So's an oven.

 

[kelminak]

But it's a dry heat!

So's an oven.

I definitely preferred being baked instead boiled 🙁

 

[curbsideconsult]

I grew up in the PNW so I completely understand your predicament. It can be difficult to adjust to hot, humid weather when you grow up with pretty idyllic summers. I've always hated humidity, even as a child, so anywhere midwest or south was offlimits for me when I was applying to med school. I'm on the east coast and, though it's not perpetually humid like in the south, it does have long stretches of disgusting, need-to-shower-4-times-a-day humidity that I just can't handle. Unfortunately, I've never become completely acclimated to the humidity even though I've been out here for 10+ years. I guess it's not as unbearable as it used to be, but I'm not and never will be at a point where I enjoy it. The only part of heat and humidity I enjoy is the unbelievable relief of taking a shower to wipe it all off.

The great news is that you'll be so busy studying that you won't have time to go outside! At least for a couple of years. And then you'll be in rotations during subsequent summer seasons so, again, you won't have to worry about disappointing so many people when you don't want to go outside. I suppose weekends might give you a little trouble, but you can just pretend to sleep in. Also, if your friends/SO really care about you they'll love you and stick by you even if you choose to live like a vampire for a few weeks a year.