– Why does being in the sun drain so much energy?

Question

To me 5 hours in the sun just walking is like 12 hours of working construction indoors. What causes this effect?

In: 165

Answer 1

Dehydration? Your body needs a certain amount of water to function (e.g. carry signals via dissolved electrolytes), and this gets more difficult the less hydrated you are. You sweat a lot in the sun, even imperceptively when it’s dry, meaning you lose water constantly. People who are conditioned to the sun, e.g. outdoor workers, athletes have adapted to handle it better, and also to read their bodies signals and drink before they get thirsty, lessening the effect.