Summer in most parts of India doesn’t arrive suddenly—it creeps in, and before long, the days start feeling heavier, longer, and harder to get through. In some places, the humidity only adds to that strain. People expect to feel uncomfortable, of course, but what often goes unnoticed is how gradually the body starts feeling the impact.
In a clinical setting, it rarely comes across as something obvious. Most people don’t walk in saying the heat is the problem. Instead, there’s a general sense of tiredness that wasn’t there before, appetite seems off, headaches become more frequent, or there’s just a feeling that something isn’t quite right. It’s easy to brush it off as stress or poor sleep, but the weather does play a bigger role than it gets credit for.
The early signs are easy to overlook
Dehydration, for instance, isn’t always dramatic. It’s not always about someone not drinking water—it’s more that the body is losing more than what’s being replaced. By the time dizziness or dryness or that sense of weakness shows up, the body has already been running low for a while.
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Throughout the day, especially in the afternoon, many people describe a dip in energy that feels disproportionate to what they’ve done. At times, blood pressure runs slightly lower than usual, and minor electrolyte shifts can also be seen. These aren’t drastic changes, but enough to leave someone feeling a bit off—less focused, more tired, and slower to recover.
Heat also tends to bring out underlying issues more clearly. Blood sugars may not stay as stable. Those with borderline kidney concerns may notice they feel worse on days they haven’t kept up with fluids. Even otherwise healthy individuals often say that the usual tiredness takes longer to wear off.
Why small daily habits start to matter
During this time, it’s usually the small things that make the biggest difference. Waiting to feel thirsty isn’t always reliable. Spacing fluids out through the day tends to work better than trying to make up for it later.
Lighter fluids—like buttermilk, coconut water, or even a simple lime water—are often easier to keep up with, especially when there isn’t much appetite. Heavier meals, on the other hand, tend to sit longer and can leave a person feeling more weighed down as the day goes on.
There’s also a tendency to underestimate how much the afternoon heat can take out of you. Even a short errand during peak hours can leave people feeling drained for the rest of the day, sometimes with a lingering headache or fatigue that doesn’t quite lift.
Who tends to feel it more
Certain groups tend to feel these changes sooner than others—older adults, pregnant women, and those already dealing with ongoing health conditions, in particular. Medications that affect fluid balance can make it harder for the body to cope.
With children, it’s a bit different—they don’t always say they’re uncomfortable. It shows up as irritability, lower energy, or just wanting to lie down more than usual.
The larger picture
Summer-related issues don’t always show up as emergencies. More often, it’s a series of small shifts that build up over days—easy to ignore at first, but harder on the body over time. Picking up on these early and making simple adjustments usually goes a long way in preventing things from getting worse.
Dr Sandeep Reddy Koppula, HOD - Internal Medicine, Arete Hospitals.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.