Did you wake up dreaming of that perfect, hot morning cup of coffee or refreshing cold brew in the afternoon? You might have to think twice. The heat is rolling in super-hot waves over Nevada, California, and Arizona, and doctors are warning people to stay away from drinking coffee during this dangerous time. Allow me to walk you through just what is taking place and what you need to know to stay safe.
Why do we need to quit the coffee — At least for now
Having a cup of coffee may not seem to be a problem, but it is a health hazard if the temperature is over 100°F. Coffee has caffeine as an ingredient, and that is also a diuretic—it pulls liquid out of your body and makes you go more often. That can be especially troublesome if you’re already losing water through sweating. Your body has a tough time staying adequately hydrated in the face of this double whammy—heat causing you to sweat and added fluid from caffeine, making you more susceptible to dehydration.
Why extreme heat happens—and why it kills
Some areas of south-central Arizona will reach 115°F, and California’s Death Valley National Park could reach up to 120°F. For the National Weather Service (NWS), these can be extremely hazardous to your health very quickly. Heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and, if not treated, even life-threatening heatstroke can occur.
Your body controls temperature automatically through sweating, but since you lose water faster than you take it in, this automatic mechanism fails. That is when your health is capable of collapsing suddenly—sometimes within minutes—in the heat of the sun.
Why it so important to be careful now
This is not an ordinary “hot day.” The NWS is declaring a “dangerous and abnormal” heat wave. So much so that it is cautioning the residents of Nevada, California, and Arizona to avoid caffeine, alcohol, heavy foods, and physical exercise. All of them tend to leave you more dehydrated and susceptible to the harsh realities of the suffocating heat.
Lake Mead, Death Valley, and the Grand Canyon are all under this threat. The NWS is warning tourists and residents against leaving children and pets in parked cars unattended, describing how an auto can turn lethal in a matter of minutes under these circumstances.
What the NWS wants you to do instead
Instead of coffee, doctors advise water, electrolyte drinks, or fluids with sodium and potassium. Drink often — even if you are not thirsty — and stay indoors when the sun is at its peak. If going out is unavoidable, wear light, light-colored attire, a hat, and use sunscreen to ease the heat.
Last words—How to stay safe during extreme heat
The NWS says these conditions will continue at least through 8 p.m. on Monday. So take this warning to heart. Your health is worth more than your morning coffee. Small choices—like substituting water for your coffee—can make a significant difference in keeping you and the people you love safe from this record heat.
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