Any health benefits of hot and humid climate?

Journey_On, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2008

Good question. Personally, I prefer warmer climates. I would rather be hot than cold. I lived for one year in a non air-conditioned dorm (in FL) with just a box fan and ceiling fan and actually tolerated it well. Since I wash my hands so often, the warmer climates are nicer to my skin.

txpatches · Jul 22, 2008

Well, I can only speak for myself, but I have fewer problems with my asthma in humid climates. The dry air of Arizona and Colorado really aggravate my asthma and I find myself taking my rescue inhalers alot more. I live in central Texas and rarely have to use my medication. But as far as other health concerns, I am really not sure if there are any benefits to humid climates.

Jaguar Boy · Jul 22, 2008

Maybe the warmth helps with joint conditions like arthritis.

hypocaffeinemia, BSN, RN · Jul 22, 2008

I live in Houston.

No health benefits other than a mild winter. The hot and humid climate discourages everyone from outdoor physical activities 8 months out of the year. It also allows smog and smoke to linger in the air.

BlueRidgeHomeRN · Jul 22, 2008

older folks tend to be cold--all the time. i lived in fl for 15 years, and frequently did home visits in august when folks not only had no a/c or fan, but were wearing sweaters!!:weathersunhot:

didn't notice the heat and humidity making anyone healthier, though! was really rough on the cardiac and diabetic patients!!:redbeathe:redbeathe

Nuieve · Jul 23, 2008

Maybe the warmth helps with joint conditions like arthritis.

That's what I thought at first, I was discussing this with my friends and also suggested this. But later I read that humidity actually aggravate arthritis, although I think articles mean humid+cold. Don't think humidity hurts anyone in hot weather. Still, it's kind of surprising that appear to be no studies conducted on this issue.

mshultz · Jul 23, 2008

Why do so many older people like Florida so much? I remember something about higher humidity being easier on... something, don't remember what. But now that I actually googled the question, and it looks like high humidity does nothing good but actually makes everything worse, bones, heart conditions...

I think older people go to Florida (and other warm climates) not for the hot and humid summers, but in order to escape the horrible northern winters. In fact, we had a governor, James Rhodes, who frequently went to Florida during the brutal Ohio winters.

I was looking through the latest church directory recently, and commented to my Sunday School class, "Why aren't there any winter addresses in Minnesota or Maine?"

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2008

No frostbite!

vashtee, RN · Jul 24, 2008

I think older people go to Florida (and other warm climates) not for the hot and humid summers, but in order to escape the horrible northern winters.

Yeah, that ^^

Old people move to Florida because they are coming from New York. By comparison, the weather is fantastic.

As a California girl, I think the humidity in Florida is disgusting.

Jolie, BSN · Jul 24, 2008

I grew up in Chicago, and thought I had the "stuff" to weather any winter conditions. I'm now in my 40's and just endured the worst winter of my life in Omaha, NE. Hubby and I are considering options to move to a warmer climate in the next year or so, something I thought I'd never do. My biggest problem is that I have orthopedic problems that make it virtually impossible to navigate snow and ice on foot. I risk hurting myself everytime I walk the dog or get the mail. I'd be curious to see the risk of hip fractures in elderly persons living in the snow belt versus the sun belt.

I'm not really interested in beaches or sunny skies, just the lack of snow and ice.

lemonaidangel · Jul 24, 2008

"I'm not really interested in beaches or sunny skies, just the lack of snow and ice."

Here here! I live up north in Michigan and we get some pretty brutal winters. Sometimes it lasts until the end of April. A few years ago we had a snow shower in May. (Ugh.) I hate the snow and being cold with a passion. As soon as I graduate and am able to come up with enough money for a down payment on an apartment, I am running away from this state as fast as my legs can carry me!

My first semester of nursing school, we had a blizzard the day before finals that accumulated over a foot of snow. I emailed one of my instructors and explained that I live in the country on a dirt road, and that we are pretty much at the bottom of the snowplow list. My car is very, very bad in the snow. What should I do if I get stuck? She emailed me back (probably sometime close to midnight) and replied, "I would suggest you leave early." Snork. Right. How early did she expect me to leave? Like last week? Anyhow, I ended up getting there on time, only getting severely stuck twice, so it was all good. But still.

I HATE SNOW!!!