Air conditioning is everywhere. On scorching days, many of us rush to cooled rooms. But is it possible that relying too much on air conditioning is not good for us? A study from Australia seems to think so.
Air Conditioning Might Not Always Help
Researchers in Australia noticed something strange. People in the Northern Territory have more air-conditioned places now than 40 years ago.
But even with all this cool air, more people are getting sick or dying from the heat. This was published in a famous health journal.
Aboriginal People Stay Cool Without Air Conditioning
Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory don’t have as much air conditioning. Yet, they aren’t getting sick from the heat like others.
Why? It might be because of their traditions. They have ways of keeping cool that they’ve been doing for a long time.
One simple trick they use is to avoid the hot afternoon sun. This might sound familiar to some.
In hot countries, people used to have a rest or ‘siesta’ during the hottest part of the day. With the recent heatwaves in Europe, the old ‘siesta’ might be coming back.
Learning from Old Ways
Dr. Simon Quilty from the study says that gadgets like air conditioners are not the only answer. Sometimes, old ways like taking a nap in the afternoon can be just as good. It’s good for the body, free, and doesn’t harm the planet.
He praises the Aboriginal people for their knowledge. They know how to live in harsh weather because they’ve been doing it for so long.
Norman Frank Jupurrurla, an elder and co-writer of the study, says housing is a big issue. The houses they have now are not good for hot weather. They need houses built for the climate they live in.
Another researcher, Aparna Lal, thinks that while air conditioning is good during very hot times, it’s not always the answer.
Spending too much time in cooled rooms might make people less used to the heat. She believes houses in hot places should be made in ways that keep them cool naturally.
Listening to First Nations Knowledge
The study’s team believes it’s crucial to understand and respect the traditional ways of the Aboriginal people. Their knowledge about living in the heat can teach us a lot.
Mr. Jupurrurla speaks of ‘gwarda’. It’s about being aware and understanding nature. He remembers how people would gather food in cool places and avoid the hot desert. They knew when and where to go because they listened to nature.
Dr. Quilty thinks it’s time for a change. As the world gets hotter, we might need to adapt.
Maybe, instead of turning up the air conditioning, we should all just take a little nap in the afternoon. The old ways might be the key to staying cool in the future.
If you care about sleep, please read studies about the science on 3 traditional bedtime remedies, and this sleep supplement may help prevent memory loss and cognitive decline.
For more information about sleep, please see recent studies about how to sleep to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, and results showing scientists find silent sleep danger for smokers.
The study was published in The Lancet Planetary Health.
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