Exercising outdoors during high temperatures requires extra caution. Health experts warn that extreme environmental conditions can significantly impact the body's physiological response, making intensity adjustment crucial for safety.
Sports Medicine Specialist dr. Antonius Andi Kurniawan, Sp.KO., explained that direct heat exposure forces the heart to work harder and increases the breathing rate. This condition accelerates fatigue and can drastically raise core body temperature if physical activity is maintained at the same intensity as in normal temperatures.
In addition to reducing duration and intensity, hydration must be a top priority. Body fluid intake must be consistently maintained before, during, and after physical activity. Dr. Andi also emphasized the importance of acclimatization or the body's adaptation process to environmental temperatures, especially for endurance sports enthusiasts such as marathon runners.
It is important to note that high humidity also poses its own challenge, as the body's natural cooling mechanism through sweat evaporation becomes less effective. If body signals are ignored, a person risks experiencing serious health issues, ranging from muscle cramps and heat exhaustion to fatal conditions like heat stroke.
Therefore, the public is advised to always check the weather forecast before deciding to exercise outdoors. Listening to one's own body limits is far more valuable than forcing training targets that could put lives at risk.
