For many countries, 40C temperatures aren’t anything to be concerned about in the middle of the summer.
However, it’s a very different story for the UK, as the nation simply isn’t used to this level of heat.
It also isn’t built for it, with homes and even many offices lacking air conditioning as it just isn’t necessary most of the time
There has also been concerns of nuclear shutdowns due to the temperature.
In desperation, Brits are turning to more extravagant ways to ease the pain and cool themselves down during the heatwave.
There are some tips that are floating around the internet right now, with some being particularly strange, though may in fact actually work…
How to cool yourself down
Rubbing yourself with onion juice
This might seem deeply unappealing, but rubbing raw onion on your skin has been claimed to shield your body from the sun’s rays.
Professor Russell Foster, a sleep expert at the University of Oxford, told the Times: “In rural India they will cut an onion in half and rub the juice on the skin. It is something you could try.”
Certain followers of ayurveda, an alternative Indian medicine, claim rubbing the onion juice on the soles of your feet helps balance your body temperature.
There's been little scientific research to back up these claims, but if you’re truly desperate to cool down then start rubbing those red onions across your body.
Cold showers
Contrary to popular belief, cold showers do very little to cool your down in the long run, according to Dr Alannah Hare, an NHS and private sleep consultant at the Royal Brompton.
Speaking to the Telegraph, she explained: “This is something people always tell me they do when it’s hot, but it doesn’t work.
“After a long, hot day in an office, it’s tempting to blast yourself under a cold shower just before bed.
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“But the problem is the body then raises its core temperature to compensate for the cold water, which makes you feel warmer once you’re in bed and makes sleep more uncomfortable.
“It’s far better to have a tepid bath or shower, so your body doesn’t try to warm itself up.”
Sleeping naked
This is one you should stop doing during the heatwave – sleeping naked.
The irony is that sleeping naked can actually make you a lot hotter through the night, as your body sweat has nowhere to go.
Dr Sophie Bostock from thesleepscientist.com explained: “I've seen a lot of advice about sleeping naked.
“But this isn't super-helpful as what you can actually find is if sweat collects on the body, and isn't whipped away by a moisture-wicking surface – like you get from clothing – then it doesn't help you cool.”
Eat gazpacho
Spain is also dealing with a heatwave right now, with temperatures hitting upwards of 46C and sparking wildfires around the country.
The Spanish health authorities have actually issued advice for people to eat gazpacho, one of the country’s national dishes.
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Gazpacho is a cold soup made from blended raw vegetables and is often enjoyed by the Spanish in the summer months.
It is also famed for its natural rehydrating powers through its ingredients of tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers.
It also contains high levels of vitamins and minerals, so it is the perfect dish to try out now.
Putting tin foil on windows
Applying tin foil to the windows of your home may seem like the actions of an unhinged conspiracy theorist, but as it turns out, it can actually be a massive help during the heatwave.
Aluminium foil is highly resistant to high temperatures and can redirect sunlight away from your home.
Best of all, tin foil is remarkably cheap and pliable, making it an easy, temporary hack to cool your home down.
You might just get some funny looks from your neighbours when you do it.
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