What do we do when a heatwave sets in?

When the heatwave arrives, you do not need an alert; one just feels it.

We don't often think about what brews it, but weather experts can explain to us the reasons behind it, from the atmospheric pressure to the northwesterly winds.

But everything has good and negative sides. Date fruits love the summer heat, but a heat wave can damage the crop and cause worry to the farmers.

The farmers apply the strategy of controlled shading and bagging, and this is how they do it—they cover the fruit bunches with specialised bags or shades, which helps in moderating the microclimate, lowering the direct temperature on the fruit and managing relative humidity. Date palms are known to be drought-tolerant, but during the summer the farmers make sure they provide the palms with a consistent amount of water. This method is also proven to prevent the fruit from shrivelling on the stalk.

It is the same with us too, I suppose. The health experts tell us to be indoors and avoid direct sunlight at least until around 4 pm. They even ask us to draw the curtains to keep the indoors cool. We might do all of this instinctively, but did you know there is a lot more when it comes to the impact of a heatwave on our minds and bodies?

Heatwaves have a profound and scientifically proven impact on mental health. We know that extreme heat causes physical dangers like dehydration, but what is interesting is the comprehensive data from the ⁠Royal College of Psychiatrists, which shows that every 1°C rise in temperature above a region’s threshold triggers a 2.2% increase in mental health-related deaths and a 0.9% increase in psychiatric illness.

The biological, psychological, and behavioural tolls of a heat wave affect humans in several major ways, and one of them is the fact that neurotransmitter and hormone disruption due to extreme heat directly alters brain chemistry, as a cortisol spike can be detected because it is the body's primary stress hormone.

Now you know why you feel constantly on the edge, agitated, or anxious. Researchers also explained that 'When the brain expends excessive energy trying to cool itself down, mood regulation suffers, potentially precipitating depressive or psychotic episodes.'

In addition to all that, a hot environment impairs executive functioning apparently.

So now you know why you are not feeling quite yourself when going through a heatwave.

This week, we are going through a dry spell of a heatwave. And what is recommended is to steer clear of high-caffeine drinks (like coffee or tea) and excessively sugary sodas; instead, sip water throughout the day. Water and shade are going to be our best friends.

Some people enjoy walking, and a friend said maybe it is a good idea to go walking in the malls. And I thought this might be a good time to indulge in libraries, exploring books and authors.

The Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) Main Library is considered one of the largest academic libraries in the country, featuring over 145,000 volumes, and then we have Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque Library established in 2001, and it has six sections. Another interesting library for school students, especially once exams get over, is the Children's Library. There are more than 130 libraries in Oman and private initiatives like Let's Read. And one cannot wait to know more about the National Library, which will be part of the Oman Cultural Complex.

A book can be a guide, an inspiration, and a best friend forever. You can take it wherever you go indoors or outdoors. It can always be the ideal gift. It can ensure that we stay indoors.

George R R Martin said, "A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, the man who never reads lives only one."