Why Does the Sun Make You Tired? (2024)

FAQs

Why do I feel sleepy after being in the sun? ›

Overly warm temperatures or strenuous exercise may tax the thermoregulation process and lead to fatigue. In more extreme cases fatigue may be a symptom of heat illness, or hyperthermia, which occurs when the body overheats and cannot properly regulate its temperature.

Exposure to hot surroundings can jump-start a series of physiological processes in the heart, brain, skin and muscles that can leave you mentally and physically drained. “Fatigue is the body's way of telling us to rest,” says Dr.

Also, the higher temperature of summer makes it harder for the body to maintain a balanced internal temperature. This extra effort can leave you feeling more tired. Feeling tired in summer is so common in many regions, that in countries like Japan, they even have a name for it: Natsubate.

Sun hangover: This condition occurs when you feel under the weather after a day out in the sun.

A: Being outdoors for at least some parts of the day can help you sleep better. Get sunlight early, walk outside in the afternoon, reduce blue light at least three hours before bedtime and go to bed in darkness to improve your sleep. Light affects melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate sleep.

When it's hot, your body sends fluid and blood to the surface of your body to cool down. This depletes some of your body's resources and can leave you feeling fatigued. To maintain energy, hydrate before, during and after a day in the sun.

In the sun the body has to work hard to maintain a comfortable temperature. This increases metabolism (the rate at which you use energy) and can, in turn, contribute to tiredness. This explains why you feel low in energy even if you've just been sitting in the sun all day.

Move the person out of the heat and into a shady or air-conditioned place. Lay the person down and raise the legs and feet slightly. Remove tight or heavy clothing. Have the person sip chilled water, a sports drink containing electrolytes or another nonalcoholic beverage without caffeine.

Well, this depends on a person's age, health, fitness level and lifestyle. Generally, the more years that pass, the more you'll value your beauty sleep, and its true senior fatigue is a real thing. However, most people start experiencing a decline in their energy levels by the time they reach their mid-thirties.

Do sunburns turn into tans? ›

Not all sunburns evolve into tans. "After the skin heals from a sunburn, the affected area may become more tan than surrounding areas," DeRosa explains. However, she notes that "this is not a good thing, as tanned skin is also a sign of skin damage caused by the sun.

Is it possible the sun is making you tired? “The heat is more to blame,” says primary care physician Matthew Badgett, MD. “Your body has to work harder to cool you off.” How active you are while outside and the amount of water you drink also affects your energy.

Dehydration. Low energy and tiredness are also common when you're lacking hydration. “Hot weather increases the rate of fluid loss through sweating, leading to dehydration. Dehydration can contribute to fatigue and make you feel even more lethargic,” adds Dr Shah.

Should I go back to sleep if I wake up tired? If you wake up tired occasionally, it might just be a one-off poor night's sleep, so a little extra snooze could help. But if this is a recurring issue, it's essential to investigate the underlying causes rather than just trying to sleep more.

The connection between vitamin D and melatonin

The interlaced functionality of vitamin D and melatonin are clear. The sun is the most optimal way of improving the levels naturally. Vitamin D is involved in the pathways of melatonin and is directly involved in several enzyme expressions in the brain related to sleep.

Your body's circadian clock responds to light, as a signal to be awake, and dark, as a signal to fall asleep. Increase your amount of light during the day to be more alert. Darken your bedroom room at night to sleep better. Avoiding bright light 2 hours before bedtime will make it easier to fall asleep.

Sunlight exposure impacts how much melatonin your brain produces, which is what tells your brain it's time to sleep. When it gets dark, you start producing melatonin, so you're ready to sleep in about two hours. With more sunlight in the summer, you're likely to feel more awake.

Exposure to sunlight is thought to increase the brain's release of a hormone called serotonin. Serotonin is associated with boosting mood and helping a person feel calm and focused. At night, darker lighting triggers the brain to make another hormone called melatonin. This hormone is responsible for helping you sleep.