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    • Image copyright punch magazine Image caption The lack of sewerage then cost the lives of many people, wrote Punch magazine.

    Are you suffering from heat? Think for a moment about those who lived in London in 1858, the year of record temperatures and the Great Stench.

    According to the London Standard newspaper, by mid-June 1858, the air temperature in the city rose to 30 degrees Celsius and stayed at this level for several weeks.

    There were no air conditioners or refrigerators then: the food quickly spoiled, and besides, says the curator of the London Museum Beverly Cook, the city did not have a properly functioning sewage system.

    Everything that people did not need - from the contents of chamber pots and newfangled flush toilets to the corpses of pets, spoiled food and waste from fishing - ended up in the Thames.

    Fishing waste included parts of cow and pig carcasses from butchers and chemicals from tanneries along the river.

    The granite embankment of the Thames had not yet been built, people often drowned in the river - intentionally or accidentally - and their corpses often remained in the water.

    In addition, horses served as the main traction force for all transport, and huge piles of manure constantly accumulated on the streets of the city, says Cook.

    "They attracted flies, which, of course, spread diseases, such as diarrhea or typhoid fever," the expert explains.

    A sickening mixture of odors hung in the city, only exacerbated by the heat. To experience the urge to vomit, it was enough just to go to the river.

    This summer went down in history as the Great Stench, and there was no exaggeration in that.

    Image caption Getting this close to the Thames in 1858 would have been impossible, says Museum of London curator Beverley Cook.

    In the 1850s London became largest city on Earth, with a population of more than 2.5 million people who suffered from a shortage drinking water and sanitary.

    • The heat is back in Europe. Record temperatures set for Spain and Portugal

    In his novel Little Dorrit, written in the 1850s, Charles Dickens describes the Thames thus: muddy waters gutter".

    Worse, for the townspeople, the Thames and the rivers flowing into it, often equally polluted, served as a source of drinking water.

    Among Londoners, the concept of "summer diarrhea" was common, and many suffered from typhoid fever. Cholera epidemics claimed thousands of lives.

    "The living conditions of Londoners were absolutely terrible," says Beverly Cook.

    "The river flows through the whole city, so it was obviously difficult to avoid it. And as soon as you approached it, you were immediately enveloped in a terrible smell, which the Londoners of that time called miasma."

    "A lot of information came down to us from the city dwellers of that time - they said that they felt sick from the smell, as soon as they approached the river, they had to cover their faces with masks or cloth."

    Image copyright Museum of London Image caption Label from a 19th century bleacher packaging - the buyer is guaranteed that the lime-sprinkled food will be free from all unpleasant odors

    The recently erected House of Commons was located near the river, and the deputies complained that it was absolutely impossible to be in rooms with windows overlooking the Thames.

    The curtains were impregnated with calcium hypochlorite, also known as whitewash.

    The manufacturers of this drug claimed that it counteracted diseases, but in fact it was nothing more than a weak air freshener, hardly able to cope with the terrible stench.

    The word "terrifying" here must be taken literally: then it was believed that the miasma carried diseases, and people were frightened by the reigning stench.

    The fact that some diseases can be transmitted with water, then only began to realize.

    Image copyright punch magazine Image caption Cartoon from Punch magazine: "The Thames-father introduces his offspring to beautiful London"

    In satirical magazines, one could often come across the figure of "Thames the Father" - a dirty old man with a sick and disfigured offspring.

    The British Empire was at the peak of its power - the Thames was traditionally considered a "river of wealth". "It was the river that brought innumerable treasures from a growing empire to London, but it also turned into a river of death," says Beverly Cook.

    “The situation worsened for several years, and I think that the hot summer of that year was the peak of the crisis. The fact that Parliament continued to work in those hot summer days was an additional incentive to take some action about what was happening,” says the curator of the London museum.

    Image copyright PoppyPixels Image caption There was no escape from the pervasive stench in the parliament buildings

    Benjamin Disraeli, then Chancellor of the Exchequer, took up the problem. He proposed a bill that MPs approved in 18 days.

    During the first reading, on July 15, 1858, Disraeli told the parliamentarians: "This noble river, so long bringing joy and pride to the English, hitherto associated with the great deeds of our merchants and the beautiful lines of our poets, has become a Stygian marsh, exuding intolerable, horrible smell".

    “Public health is at stake; almost all life that once lived in the waters of the Thames has disappeared or been destroyed. There is a natural fear that the same fate awaits those living creatures that settled on its banks. This great city swallowed up by the fear of epidemics," Disraeli said.

    The project became law on August 2, 1858. The City Public Service was given the finances and authority to carry out the greatest engineering project of the day. Work was to begin the following year, with Joseph Baseljet appointed as head of the project.

    Baseljet designed a system of connected sewers to intercept London's slop before they reached the Thames, as well as a new embankment with built-in drains.

    Image copyright Crossness Engines Peter Scrimshaw Image caption This is how Crossness looks like from the inside, one of the first pumping stations in London

    Waste was pumped out using carefully designed pumping stations, among which were the famous stations of Crossness and Abbey Mills.

    The sewage was still washed into the river, but in less populated areas. "Out of sight, out of mind," explains Greg Warner, a volunteer with Crossness Engines Trust, an NGO that rebuilds Victorian pumping stations.

    These stations ceased operation only in the 20th century, when it became unacceptable to simply dump untreated wastewater into the environment.

    Warner calls Baseljet a kind of hero who has done a lot for the health of Londoners.

    "Imagine a 45-centimeter layer of sewage on the surface of the Thames," says Warner. "He physically diverted all this runoff from central London."

    Thames Water, which supplies the city with drinking water, says the old sewer pipes are still in excellent working order, although they were made for a much smaller city.

    London's water and sewer system is currently undergoing a major overhaul, with the city's population expected to reach 10 million by 2030.

    Baseljet's architectural design was executed to the highest standards, at the highest technical level, says Beverly Cook.

    "This project was very well conceived and executed. The advantage was the wealth of the city - you didn't have to worry about money, you just had to do everything at the highest level."

    Last year broke all temperature records, but 2017 is not going to lag behind. According to forecasts by the World Meteorological Organization, it could become the warmest on record. What to do if the apartment is very hot in summer, and how to survive the heat in the city? We have collected everything valuable advice in one longread.

    How heat affects the body

    The physical discomfort of the heat is the lesser evil. Worse, it can be harmful to health. Human body sensitively reacts to changes in the environment, and the possibilities of the thermoregulation system are not unlimited.

    Heat causes the body to overheat. The temperature of the skin rises, and the heat exchange of the body with the external environment is greatly enhanced. Sweating becomes more intense, the water-salt balance in the body is disturbed. Because of this, the mucous membranes, designed to prevent the entry of harmful microorganisms into the body, dry up, and the body's defenses are reduced. Children are especially susceptible to this process: their thermoregulation mechanism is not yet fully formed, and in the heat their body temperature rises faster. That is why even in mid-July, babies can catch a cold infection.

    Violation of the water-salt balance also depletes muscle tissue. They receive less nutrition, their performance decreases, fatigue and discomfort appear.

    On hot days, it will not be superfluous to help the body come into balance, not to overload it and try to reduce the temperature as much as possible. environment.

    How to cope with the heat in the apartment: household appliances

    It is said that if you concentrate and imagine something cold, you can actually feel the coolness. But if thoughts about ice cream and Everest do not affect you, then we advise you to move from the spiritual to the material and look for salvation among household climate appliances. They will help to normalize the temperature and humidity, the decrease of which during the heat can be bad for health. But first things first.

    Air conditioning

    The most popular type of air conditioners in everyday life is a wall-mounted split system. It consists of two blocks - external and internal. Freon constantly circulates between them. In the indoor unit of the air conditioner, freon passes from a liquid state to a gaseous state and, in the process of evaporation, takes heat from the air. The cooled air is fed back into the room, and the freon heated from the room air enters the outdoor unit.

    Many modern split systems are equipped with an inverter, which allows you to smoothly change the heating and cooling power. Due to this, inverter air conditioners are quieter and, as a rule, more economical than conventional ones.

    Worldly experience says that air conditioning under certain circumstances can be deceitful and, together with the desired coolness, bring a sore throat, a runny nose and even an attack of sciatica. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to approach the choice of the location of the device with all responsibility. The main thing is to exclude long stay person in the area where the cold air stream is directed directly: this is about 2-3 meters from the device. In the bedroom, it is recommended to hang the air conditioner above the head of the bed. So the recreation area will be protected from direct hit cold air flow.

    When using an air conditioner, you must remember that it requires care and attention. If the filters are not changed regularly, in accordance with the instructions, then bacteria can multiply on them.

    And one more important point which is often not known or forgotten. The air conditioner does not supply fresh air from outside. Therefore, you still have to ventilate the room, regardless of the temperature outside the window. In a clogged room, even with an air conditioner, a person will soon feel lethargic.

    Appeared in recent times air conditioners with air flow (we devoted a whole to them) also do not eliminate the need to ventilate. They supply only about 30 m3 of fresh air per hour. Compare with a specialized ventilation device: its capacity reaches 160 m3 / h. This is enough to provide five people with fresh air. In addition, the use of air conditioners with inflow is limited during the cold season. And the breather can be used not only in June-July-August, but all year round thanks to the heating function. So it would be optimal to use two devices: to entrust the breather with ventilation, and the air conditioner with cooling.

    Fan

    A fan is a way to escape the heat cheaply and cheerfully. Of course, if the room is very hot, then the air conditioner will help out faster and more efficiently. But the fan is by no means without advantages. Affordable price, ease of installation, no need for any maintenance and low cost - these are, in fact, the reasons that many, answering the question "what to do if it's hot at home?", make a choice in favor of a fan.

    When choosing a fan, pay attention to the diameter of the propeller blades: the larger it is, the stronger the device will accelerate the air. The most popular fans are floor fans. But if the room is small and there is nowhere to put such a fan, look for wall-mounted models. Ceiling fans are still more commonly seen in restaurants than friends in the living room. But lately, they still gradually penetrate into design projects.

    Humidifier

    No, a humidifier does not protect you from the heat. In the sense that it cannot lower the air temperature. But in the case when the heat is combined with dry air, the humidifier is strictly recommended for use. Supporting at least at home, we give the mucous membranes to rehabilitate their protective capabilities. True, it is important not to overdo it here: excessive humidity in the heat makes sweating difficult and therefore difficult to tolerate. Therefore, a humidifier should only be used in dry weather.

    There are several ways to make life easier in the heat without the use of special devices.

    Close the windows with thick curtains or blinds to keep the hot sun out of the rooms. Alternative way: stick a reflective film on the window glass that prevents the room from heating up.

    If possible, try to limit the time you use an electric or gas stove, otherwise the air will heat up even more. During the heat, you can try to give up hot dishes and switch to fresh vegetables and fruits, especially since appetite usually decreases in summer.

    Cold air is heavier than hot air and sinks down. Therefore, during abnormally hot weather, you can change your usual bed for a mattress on the floor - it is cooler there.

    Pets also suffer from heat and tend to be more thirsty than usual. It is important to make sure that there is always water in their feeder. But meat or fish should not be left for the whole day: in the heat, food quickly deteriorates. It is better to switch to dry food.

    How to survive the heat in the city

    Whatever oasis you create in your apartment, sooner or later you will have to leave it and go out into the scorching heat. What to do in hot weather in the city?

    The first step is to take care of the equipment: clothes in the heat should be light, it is better to give preference to natural materials, cotton and linen. Synthetic clothing hinders heat transfer and prevents the evaporation of moisture, which is necessary for cooling the body.

    Nutrition in the heat is worth giving Special attention. Heavy high-calorie food at this time is not the best choice because the extra energy is useless to the body. But spicy food, on the contrary, is indicated for use in the heat: it increases sweating and thereby contributes to thermoregulation. Just don't forget to drink spicy food large quantity water to prevent dehydration. In the heat, it is advisable to eat a little, but often - 5-6 times a day. It is better to refrain from alcohol and sweet carbonated drinks: all this provokes dehydration. Give preference to water, plain or mineral.

    For many people, hot summers are a problem. they do not have the opportunity to move to a cooler place, for example, to a dacha. In apartments, especially on the sunny or south side, it becomes unbearably hot in summer, which can adversely affect health.

    What to do if it gets hot at home? To do this, you can use some simple ways to help cool the room. They will be discussed in this article.

    First, you should take a look at your home thermometer and evaluate the temperature of your home.

    Today I took a look at my thermometer, and I was horrified, because. The temperature in it went off scale +35 degrees. This can be compared to the temperature on the beach, but there is a sea or a body of water that helps the body to cool down. But what if we have such heat at home, and even higher on the balcony, because. the windows of the apartment are directed to the south.

    Of course, you can not stay at home, but spend most of your time on the street or in cool rooms. However, some people, for example, pensioners, disabled people, are forced to stay at home in the heat, because. it is difficult for them to once again go out into the yard, or climb the stairs. And some can’t walk at all and sit at home all the time.

    For such people, it is especially important to be in a cooler room so as not to burden cardiovascular system. If this is not possible, then in this case, you need to purchase an air conditioner, a fan, or use cheaper methods, such as constant ventilation, a damp cloth on the forehead, a cool shower, quench your thirst, light cotton clothing, a fan, etc. This should help if you very hot.

    Easy rules to follow in the heat

    Summer can be called the season of rest, relaxation, travel, because. at this time, many people, as a rule, take vacations, spend most of their time in nature, in the country, in the countryside or in resorts. What could be better than summer? In fact, summer is great, but heat, temperature changes, the greenhouse effect can spoil your mood and adversely affect your health.

    As I said, not all people can afford to travel, or go to the country, where it smells like a forest, the freshness of nature. Some are forced to spend the summer at home and suffer from the heat, especially if the windows of the apartment are directed to the south. A friend of mine has windows facing east, but she suffers from the heat in her apartment on the ninth floor. According to her, the heat in her house is due to overheating of the roof from the sun. What to do if it's hot at home?

    Rules:

    • wear light clothing;
    • use a fan, air conditioning;
    • curtains at noon, i.e. in the heat (preferably before 16:00);
    • open the door to the bathroom;
    • take a cool shower;
    • use the fan;
    • put a damp cloth on your forehead;
    • give up caffeine, sweet soda;
    • include more fruits and vegetables in the menu;
    • drink at least 2.5 - 3 liters of water per day;
    • drink tea with lemon balm, mint, lemon zest, catnip (), St. John's wort, yarrow, which have a cooling effect;
    • eat watermelon, melon, popsicles, drink a cooling cocktail.

    It should also be noted that if it is very hot outside, do not go out for a walk without a hat, and also do not forget to take a bottle of water with you.

    Abnormal heat adversely affects health

    Summer high temperatures can be a health hazard. High humidity, lack of wind (poor ventilation), plus high temperatures (heat-waves) harm or aggravate general health.

    The first signs of the negative effects of heat:

    • weakness;
    • headache;
    • increased body temperature;
    • strong thirst;
    • muscle spasms;
    • tachycardia;
    • loss of consciousness.

    If you have these symptoms, you should immediately go to the passage, if the person is unconscious, call an ambulance. Also, if the condition worsens, moisten the face with cool water.

    How to protect yourself from the heat?

    In summer, it is better to wear light colors made from natural materials such as linen, cotton. Avoid dark clothing made from synthetic materials.

    Eat light meals, avoid heavy, high-fat, high-calorie meals. Give preference to white meat, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables. Limit the consumption of coffee, alcohol, carbonated drinks, which lead to even more dehydration, because. have a diuretic effect. It is better to drink plain water in the very heat, at least one liter in the first half of the day.

    Some experts believe that in the heat of the day it is better to keep the windows closed. This way you keep the house cool. This method popular in Tajikistan. The thicker the curtain, the better. In the evening and at night, it is advisable to open the windows to let fresh air into the house. If you have mosquitoes, then in this case you need to put mosquito nets.

    If your windows face east, west or north, then you can plant climbing plants on the balcony to protect the house from the sun's rays. The more plants the better.

    Pensioners, the elderly and the disabled should pay special attention to their health. Measure regularly blood pressure, body temperature, especially in the heat.

    During the hottest days or hours, avoid excessive physical activity, sports. Also, during the hottest hours, it is recommended to turn off all electrical appliances that give imperceptible heat.

    Research

    Numerous studies have shown that not only environmental pollution, sudden changes in temperature, but also the use of an air conditioner can have a negative impact on a person. It can also be called a sudden change in temperature, especially when you go outside in a cool, air-conditioned room in the heat.

    It is worth noting that in the heat there is a high risk of heat stroke. This is especially true for the elderly and children who have a weakened sense of thirst. Therefore, children and the elderly should especially observe the drinking regimen. In addition, if you are taking medications, you should pay special attention to your condition. Some of them medicines affect the mechanism of thermoregulation and increase the chances of heat stroke.

    In the heat, young people are also at risk of heat stroke and dehydration. The only way out is to drink enough water throughout the day. Sometimes high air temperature or temperature fluctuations can cause insomnia.

    There is an opinion that in the heat we should not drink coffee and other drinks containing caffeine, because. they have a diuretic effect. This increases the excretion of fluid from the body. However, scientists report that in order to cause dehydration, you need to drink a huge amount of such drinks. Therefore, in the heat, you should not be afraid of coffee, especially if you drink it in the morning.

    Experts believe that you should not use the air conditioner often, because. it can weaken the immune system. Do not install the air conditioner if the temperature in your apartment is below 25 - 26 degrees Celsius. This temperature is well tolerated.

    Everything is good in moderation. Despite the fact that "the heat of the bones does not ache", in winter it is too warm, and, consequently, dry air brings discomfort. In addition, problems with the skin, hair, and sometimes the state of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems may appear. Summer overheating is fraught with even more serious health problems.

    In many regions, already at the end of May it becomes hot during the day, and during the night the housing does not have time to cool down. Discomfort both at night and during the day interferes with normal rest, the heat “exhausts”, deprives one of strength and efficiency.

    If the thermometer in your home is showing more, it's better to take simple steps to correct the air condition than to apply a lot of products to moisturize the skin, fight dry hair or other more serious health problems.

    We curtain the windows

    To reduce the penetration of sunlight into the room, you need to curtain the windows. For this are used:

    • foil;
    • light thick curtains;
    • special reflective curtain.

    The foil on the windows will reflect the sun's rays, keeping the interior cool. Light-weight, light-colored fabric is best for summer curtains. Bright or dark fabrics will absorb rather than reflect the sun's rays. It is necessary to choose a material that is resistant to color: it will protect the house from hot rays, and also prevent furniture or wallpaper from fading.


    Heat insulation for windows

    simple and easy way reduce the temperature in the house - use mirrored windows by buying a special sun-protection film (it has an adhesive surface) with the effect of reflecting the sun's rays. You can't call this option very affordable. Even easier, but much more economical, is to use plain foil. For example, take a 15-meter roll package, it is enough for one window. Enough to moisten inside glass with plain water and you can mold the foil. Surprisingly, it will last quite a long time. Of course, you can add some tape around the edges.

    Tip: when it's very hot outside, when leaving the house, you need to close all the windows, otherwise the heat will be inside the room. It is worth ventilating only if the temperature outside the window is not much higher than room temperature. Ideal ventilation in summer - at night.

    We use modern technology

    A modern way to deal with elevated air temperature in a room is to use an air conditioner and a fan. But, despite the fact that progress does not stand still, more and more new air cooling systems appear, they have many opponents. Air conditioners and split systems are accused of being sources of various diseases. Is it really? If so, how can you reduce the risk of getting sick under air conditioning?

    Pros and cons of air conditioners and split systems

    Without air conditioners, it is impossible to imagine modern shops, efficient work in offices, coolness and comfort in houses and apartments. In addition to their main purpose - to optimize the air temperature, they can clean the air from dust and exhaust gases, disinfect the air by trapping microbes, move the air in different directions-schemes, excluding drafts.

    But, at the same time, air conditioning can cause illness if:

    • the equipment did not pass the technical inspection and preventive cleaning of the indoor unit on time;
    • a person is in close proximity to a continuously operating air conditioner for a long time;
    • equipment works in conditions not recommended by manufacturers.

    Read also

    How to make a drain hole for a private house

    Fan coolness

    Many people prefer not to use air conditioning, but a fan. Sometimes this device is the only affordable one. Modern modifications have "bells and whistles" in the form of sprayed tiny particles of water. A traditional fan does not cool the air, but drives it around the apartment, creating the effect of a breeze. It's better than nothing than complete absence air movement. When using the device, you also need to take precautions, do not fall asleep under the air flow from the fan, do not come up steamed, coming from the street. The greatest effect can be achieved if:

    • spread large pieces of ice in front of the fan. Cool air will spread throughout the apartment.
    • direct the breeze from the fan onto the hanging wet cloth – it moisturizes and cools the room well.

    Proven way to cool the air in your home

    Caution with the fan: studies have been conducted, as a result of which it became clear that at temperatures above 35 degrees, the fan threatens with unpleasant consequences for the body. Hot air directed at a hot body does not cool, but causes dehydration. This is how heat exhaustion occurs. This is a painful condition, the cause of which is overheating.

    Using a humidifier

    Modern humidifiers are great helpers to maintain an optimal indoor environment, a healthy ratio of humidity and temperature. The most popular ultrasonic models. They are the most efficient, at the same time compact, economically consume electricity. The traditional cold steam humidifier has its pros and cons. The saturation of the environment with moisture during the operation of such a device occurs due to a special filter of cold distilled water. Another type of humidifier is a steam model, which operates on a pair of electrodes immersed in water to heat and evaporate it.

    Ultrasonic Household Air Humidifier

    Which device to choose is up to you. Efficiency and long-term use are directly reflected in the cost of the humidifier. When the heat is over 30 degrees, a humidifier is not an assistant. The reflective roller blind does not save either. Air conditioning only.

    We arrange open water in the house

    But not always and not everywhere in a country house or in the country it is possible to install air conditioning. When it is very hot, a simple and long-known method will help to deal with the main side effect of high air temperature - its dryness. You need to put in the house several buckets or basins with cold water. It will have to be changed as it warms up. Cold water lowers the heating temperature of the air.

    Tip: cool the room by a few life-giving degrees and water frozen in plastic bottles. Such ice can be spread around the apartment - it will become cooler. A thawed bottle can be re-placed in the freezer of the refrigerator - this source of ice in any season.

    And it gets hot in the summer

    In the conditions of a city built up with concrete highways and high-rise buildings, the summer heat is felt especially hard. It is good if there is a country house where you can go during the hot period. Working citizens often go out of town for the weekend, and here you can also encounter a problem: it can also be hot in the country, especially during the day. In order for the country house to retain its life-giving coolness for your arrival next weekend, you need to curtain the windows and leave containers of water indoors.

    Thank you

    How does a person adapt to heat?

    Heat is an excessively high ambient temperature ( over 30 degrees Celsius). This article will talk about how the human body adapts to such high temperatures and what to do when it's too hot.

    The human body is designed to feel comfortable both in summer and winter. To do this, there is a thermoregulation center that ensures the constancy of body temperature and triggers compensatory mechanisms in response to changes in ambient temperature. In summer, to prevent heat stroke, mechanisms are activated to cool the body.

    The mechanisms of the body aimed at preventing heat stroke are as follows:

    • decrease in body heat production;
    • maximum increase in heat transfer.
    These mechanisms are based on the principle of thermoregulation, that is, heat production - heat transfer. This means that the body is capable of both producing heat ( heat production), and give it away ( heat transfer). The balance between these two processes is regulated by the thermoregulatory center, which is located in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. It maintains a constant body temperature ( about 36 - 37 degrees) regardless of ambient temperature. The exception is fever, when body temperature changes due to infection. In other cases, the hypothalamus ensures the constancy of body temperature. When the ambient temperature drops, heat transfer decreases and heat production increases. When it's hot outside, everything happens the other way around - heat transfer increases sharply, production decreases.

    The brain receives signals about changes in temperature from skin receptors. These are special heat receptors ( sensors), which are embedded in the superficial layer of the skin. They instantly react and send signals to the brain when the ambient temperature changes even by 2-3 degrees.

    The mechanisms for reducing heat production and increasing heat transfer are as follows:

    • All processes in the body slow down. Breathing becomes shallow, heart rate becomes less frequent. All this is done in order to stop the production of heat.
    • The vessels of the skin expand, and the volume of circulating blood in them increases. This leads to increased heat transfer.
    • At temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, the work of the sweat glands is activated. Sweat production is the main mechanism of heat transfer. So, evaporating, sweat cools the body, leading to a decrease in body temperature lower than the ambient temperature. Sweating can significantly reduce body temperature, but it is important to understand that a large amount of fluid is lost during this.

    How to save yourself from the heat in the apartment?

    Being in the apartment during the heat, it is very important to stop the sun's rays from entering the room. Light from the sun can raise the temperature in a room by 5 to 10 degrees, thereby creating a greenhouse effect. To avoid this, it is necessary to close the windows with blackout curtains or hang blinds. Reflective film will help to reflect the sun's rays as much as possible, which can be attached to the curtains from the side of the window.

    Wearing the right clothes will make it easier to endure the heat in the apartment. It is not recommended to wear dense, synthetic fabrics, because they prevent heat transfer and create additional heat for the skin. Loose cotton clothing will not interfere with heat transfer and will not create a greenhouse effect.

    What to do if the room is hot in summer?

    During the day it is recommended to keep the windows closed, while in the morning and evening it is recommended to open them to ventilate the room. A well-ventilated room will prevent oxygen starvation of the body. To freshen up the room as much as possible, you can resort to a draft. To do this, you must simultaneously open the windows located in opposite rooms. This will help to quickly cool the room, but it is very important not to catch a cold. To avoid this, it is not recommended to be indoors during a draft.

    Replacing incandescent lamps with LED ones will help to reduce heat production in the room. The latter emit two times less heat than conventional incandescent lamps.

    What can and can not be done with a chill?

    Why can't you drink alcohol during the heat?

    What you should not do during the heat is drink alcohol. From drinking alcoholic beverages should be abandoned for several reasons. First, when drinking alcohol in the summer ( And this applies even to beer.) increases the load on the cardiovascular system. The risk of developing myocardial infarction and stroke in the heat increases several times. Secondly, getting into the body, alcohol needs a lot of water. It breaks down and uses body water for its metabolism. This explains dry mouth after heavy drinking. However, in summer time the body already loses water in large quantities, and drinking alcohol can even lead to dehydration. Doctors strongly recommend avoiding alcohol while relaxing on the beach and in other places, as this increases the risk of heat stroke several times.

    It should also be noted that in the summer the effect of alcohol intensifies. This is explained by the fact that the blood vessels are dilated, and blood circulation in them is more intense. Alcohol very quickly penetrates through the gastric mucosa into dilated arteries and spreads throughout the body with blood flow.

    Refreshing drinks at home

    Refreshing drinks prepared on your own at home help to cope with thirst. In addition, the feeling of quenched thirst after them persists for a long time, unlike industrial drinks. The fact is that various industrial juices and carbonated drinks contain a lot of sugar, and after a very short time after drinking them, the feeling of thirst arises again.
    There are several varieties of homemade drinks, each of which has its own characteristics and specifics of preparation.

    There are the following types of soft drinks:
    • fruit drink;
    • kvass;
    • lemonade;
    • compote;
    • Herb tea.
    All types of homemade soft drinks should be kept refrigerated as they do not contain preservatives and the heat can spoil the drink. The shelf life of any drink does not exceed 2 days.

    Morse

    Morse is a drink that contains berries or fruits ( fresh or frozen), water and additional components ( sugar, mint, ice). The history of Morse goes back many centuries, and even in ancient Rus' it was prepared from wild forest berries and was used not only to quench thirst, but also to treat certain diseases. Today, this drink is also used in the fight against certain diseases, and there is even such a definition as sea therapy ( mors treatment).

    Morse cooking rules
    To prepare this drink, any berries or fruits can be used, but it is advisable to take those that have a large amount of juice. Raw materials need to be crushed ( crush with a mashed potato maker, e.g.) and squeeze out the juice using cheesecloth. If the fruit drink is prepared from frozen foods, before carrying out this procedure, they must be thawed by holding at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes. Utensils for making fruit drinks should be made of glass or ceramic, not metal.

    The raw materials remaining after squeezing the juice must be poured warm water at the rate of a liter of liquid per 200 - 300 grams of fruit and bring to a boil over low heat. Then the broth should be filtered from the squeezes, cool and combine with the squeezed juice. Various additional ingredients can be added to taste.

    The following components can be used as a supplement when cooking fruit drink:

    • sugar ( added at the time of boiling);
    • honey ( added after the broth has already boiled and cooled down a bit);
    • mint ( put in a ready-made chilled drink);
    • lemon peel ( added during the extraction of raw materials);
    • slices of citrus used as a decoration for ready-made fruit drinks);
    • vanilla ( put on a boil);
    • cinnamon ( added at the boil);
    • ice ( used to cool the finished fruit drink).
    There is another, simpler method of preparing fruit drink, which eliminates the boiling process. To prepare a drink according to this recipe, the raw materials must be squeezed out and poured with boiled or mineral non-carbonated water in the proportion of a liter of liquid per 300 - 400 grams of fruit. It should be noted that such a fruit drink is not recommended for gastritis with high acidity.

    What components are used for fruit drinks?
    Any berries and fruits that have juicy watery pulp can be used as the main component for making fruit drinks. It is recommended to choose seasonal local fruits, because imported products are characterized by a high content of nitrates and other harmful substances.

    There are the following most popular fruits for making fruit drinks:

    • cherry;
    • sea ​​​​buckthorn ( boiling process is a must).
    Sugar, mint and other additional components are not a prerequisite for preparing fruit drinks.

    Recommendations for choosing fruit drinks
    In addition to quenching thirst, fruit drink has a positive effect on a person's well-being. Therefore, if possible, it is recommended to choose the type of fruit drink that will be most useful to a particular person.

    • Cowberry. Such a drink will be useful for people with low resistance to various infections, as well as for those who are engaged in hazardous industries, because lingonberries remove harmful metals from the body.
    • Crimson. It is indicated for people with cardiovascular diseases, as it strengthens the walls of blood vessels, increases hemoglobin, improves blood characteristics. Also, raspberry juice is recommended for those prone to frequent colds, digestive disorders.
    • Cranberry. Cranberry juice is recommended for women with chronic diseases of the urinary system ( e.g. cystitis). The drink is also useful for gastritis with low acidity, edema, and kidney problems.
    • Blackberry. Blackberry juice improves the function of the gastrointestinal tract, so its use will be of particular benefit to those who suffer from constipation. It also lowers blood pressure therefore, it is not recommended for hypotension), activates the process of outflow of bile.
    • Cherry. It is recommended for problems with the joints, as the berries prevent the deposition of salts. Cherries contain a lot of melatonin, a substance that is responsible for the sleep process, therefore, with increased drowsiness, this drink is not recommended to be taken in the morning. If you have problems with sleep, you should not miss the evening reception of such a fruit drink.
    • Bilberry. This morse is indicated for people with vision problems, as well as for those who subject their eyes to regular stress ( works at a computer, knits, repairs or produces small parts).
    • Sea buckthorn. Sea buckthorn drink should be taken with a tendency to diseases of the respiratory system ( bronchitis, sore throat). In addition, such fruit drink is recommended for frequent stress, nervous fatigue, depression.
    • Currant. Currant juice, especially black currant, is recommended for high cholesterol. All varieties of this berry have an anti-inflammatory effect, so the drink will benefit from chronic infections.

    Kvass

    Kvass is a drink that is obtained by fermentation. Traditionally, kvass is made from bread, yeast, sugar and water, but there are other varieties of this drink. Since the preparation is based on the fermentation process, kvass is a carbonated drink with a small amount of alcohol ( no more than 1.5 percent). Therefore, kvass is not recommended for children under the age of 3 years.

    There are the following varieties of kvass:

    • classic bread yeast kvass;
    • kvass from Borodino bread;
    • apple kvass;
    • kvass from dried fruits.
    Classic bread yeast kvass
    Classic kvass is made from bread, yeast ( dry or pressed), water and sugar. The choice of bread affects the taste of the finished drink. So, if you use rye bread, kvass will turn out dark with a rich-sharp taste. If you take wheat-rye bread, the drink will come out lighter and with a milder taste. The process of making classic kvass consists of 3 stages.

    Bread yeast kvass is prepared according to the following rules:

    • First step. First you need to prepare the starter. For this you need half a loaf of bread ( 200 - 250 grams) cut into finger-thick sticks and dry in the oven. It is important that the bread does not burn, because kvass will have a bitter taste. Dried crackers should be poured with 2 cups of boiling water, add 60 grams of sugar ( cane can be used) and grind into a paste. The resulting mass must be cooled naturally ( i.e. don't put it in the fridge.) to 35 degrees, then add 20 grams of dry or 30 grams of regular yeast. After that, the starter container must be covered with a cloth ( no plastic lid) and leave to ferment at room temperature for one day.
    • Second phase. After the starter is ready ( the foam that appears at the beginning of fermentation should settle), the mass should be transferred to a more capacious container ( the best option is a glass jar with a volume of 3 liters). 200 - 300 grams of crackers are added to the sourdough, after which the vessel must be filled with cool syrup, which is prepared from water and 50 grams of sugar. Then the jar is covered with a cloth and left in a cool place for 24 hours.
    • Third stage. The final stage is the filtration of the drink, for which gauze folded in several layers is used. Kvass should be poured through gauze into a vessel with a tight-fitting lid and put in the refrigerator. The bread mass that remains can be used to prepare another 1 - 2 servings of the drink.
    Kvass from Borodino bread
    Kvass from Borodino bread is prepared by analogy with classic kvass, but without the addition of yeast. In addition, 50 grams of raisins are added to this drink. Put raisins during the preparation of the sourdough. Since the drink is prepared without yeast, the fermentation process may take longer than in the case of traditional recipe. As a rule, it takes about 3 days for the sourdough to be completely ready.

    Apple kvass
    This type of kvass is made from any variety of apples, but it is better to take those that have a sour taste, which will give the drink a characteristic sourness. To prepare a liter of kvass, peel and seeds 3 apples, cut into slices, pour a liter of water and bring to a boil. After 5 minutes of boiling, remove the container from the stove and cool the apple broth to 35 degrees. Then it is necessary to drain 200 milliliters of broth into a separate vessel, add yeast there and wait until foam appears on the surface of the liquid ( depending on the type of yeast, it may take from 15 minutes to an hour). After that, the fermented yeast should be poured into a container with a decoction, add sugar to taste, lemon juice ( if the apples are not sour), cover with a cloth and leave to ferment for a day. If desired, cinnamon, honey instead of sugar, vanilla, mint can be added to kvass.

    Kvass from dried fruits
    Kvass from dried fruits is prepared according to the same principle as apple kvass. The only difference is that instead of 5 minutes, dried fruits should be boiled longer - from 15 to 20 minutes. Dried apricots, raisins, prunes, figs can be used as raw materials.

    Recommendations for the use of kvass
    During the fermentation process, various enzymes are formed in kvass ( substances that aid digestion), probiotics ( beneficial bacteria), amino acids. Due to its composition, the drink has a positive effect on all organs of the digestive tract and especially on the intestines. Regular consumption of kvass contributes to the normalization of microflora, which will be useful for those who often suffer from dysbacteriosis, constipation and other similar problems.

    Lemonade

    Lemonade is soft drink with a sour taste, which is traditionally prepared from lemons.

    How to make lemonade?
    To prepare approximately 1.5 liters of drink, you will need 10 - 12 medium-sized lemons. Citrus fruits should be scalded with hot water in order to remove harmful substances from them, which they are processed during transportation. Then you need to peel the zest from the lemons with a fine grater, and then squeeze the juice out of them. The zest should be sprinkled with sugar ( 150 - 200 grams) and pour into a glass hot water. If desired, mint can be added to the syrup, after which the liquid should be left for 15 to 20 minutes so that the zest gives flavor. Then the cooled syrup must be filtered, add to it lemon juice and a liter of water you can use carbonated or still water). The drink should be stored in a dark container on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, because the vitamins present in it are destroyed under the action of light.

    In addition to lemons, oranges are often used to make lemonade. The proportions of citrus fruits are based on personal preferences. So, the most popular is the recipe, which uses oranges and lemons in equal proportions. This drink has a pronounced citrus aroma and characteristic sourness. If you make lemonade only from oranges, you should significantly reduce the proportion of sugar so that the drink does not turn out too sweet. You can also add grapefruit, tangerines to lemonade, and replace mint with basil, oregano.

    Tips for Drinking Lemonade
    Thanks to a large number vitamins, lemonade will be useful for people who are often exposed to colds. Especially often during the heat, those who work in air-conditioned rooms catch a cold. Lemonade also normalizes metabolism, improves brain activity and increases working capacity.

    Compote

    Compote is a decoction of fruits or berries with added sugar. This drink is the most popular and has a large number of preparation options. The difference between compote and other cooling drinks is its longer shelf life ( 3 to 5 days), since the fruits from which it is prepared undergo heat treatment.

    How to cook compote?
    Among all compote recipes, it is impossible to single out one that could be called a classic. The composition of raw materials, proportions, cooking features - all these factors are determined, to a greater extent, only by personal preferences. There are only general rules that you should be guided by when preparing this drink.

    There are the following general rules for preparing compote:

    • Dishes. For the preparation of compote, it is not recommended to use aluminum dishes, since many useful substances are destroyed upon contact with this metal. It is better to use enamel pans.
    • Main raw material. Compote can be prepared from any berries or fruits in various combinations and proportions. Compote, cooked from dried fruits, also quenches thirst well.
    • Water. Used to make compote pure water, which is taken from the calculation of a liter of liquid per 200 - 300 grams of fruit. If you want to get a richer taste of the drink, the amount of water should be reduced.
    • Sugar. The amount of sugar depends on the taste of the fruit and personal preference. On average, 2 to 3 tablespoons of sugar are used per kilogram of raw materials. For quince compote, sour apples or tart pears, the amount of sugar can be increased to 5 tablespoons.
    • Additional components. To obtain unusual taste, various spices or herbs are added to the compote. Apple compote is combined with cinnamon, cloves or allspice ( in peas). Cherry compote is added with cherry leaves or bay leaf ( 1 - 2 leaflets per liter of liquid). Mint, green cardamom are put to peaches and apricots.
    • Cooking time. The less vegetable raw materials are cooked, the more saturated the taste of compote comes out, but its shelf life is reduced. On average, cook compote, for example, from apples should be 10 - 15 minutes. If the drink is made from watery berries ( e.g. raspberries), then the cooking time should be reduced to 5 minutes. If dried fruits are used as the main component, the cooking time should be increased to 20 minutes.

    Herb tea

    Tea brewed from herbs helps to quench thirst, and also gives strength and has a strengthening effect, which is important with the onset of summer and high temperatures. You can drink such a drink as warm ( in this form, it not only quenches thirst, but also helps the body resist heat) and chilled.

    How to prepare herbal tea?
    This drink is made from fresh or dried herbs, water and sugar ( can be replaced with honey or not used at all). You can also add lemon, spices, ice. If tea is prepared from fresh raw materials, a tablespoon of crushed herbs is used in a glass of boiling water. Herbs need to be filled with water and left to infuse. When preparing tea from dry herbs, a teaspoon of raw materials is taken, poured with a glass of water and brought to a boil.