Humidity – Swamps, Sweat, and the Science of Sticky Air
Humidity isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s a physiological challenge. For individuals in Maryland and DC, this reflection explores how swampy summers affect our bodies, our buildings, and our moods, and why staying cool is more than a luxury—it’s a necessity.
I have decided that humidity is my enemy. Yes, you heard that right. I have chosen a form of weather as my enemy. I live just outside of Washington, D.C. Our nation’s capital is a swamp. I am not referring to the political climate or politicians though that could be a discussion for another time. I am referring to the actual, physical characteristics of this part of the country. Washington, D.C was built on a swamp. Perfect! What better place to put the nation’s capital.
The swamp land along the Potomac River was drained to create space for buildings and roads and homes. Trust me. No matter how you drain a swamp, it is still a swamp. The slightest elevation in humidity results in stifling air and pollution. And again, I am not talking about the politicians. The land, the air, the area along the Potomac River is still a swamp.
This summer the swamp has been performing overtime. The temperature has been high and as it climbs the swamp works to keep up by providing humidity that competes with the temperature. The weather people on the television give warnings to stay inside, assuming you have air conditioning. I had no idea that air conditioning was a universal thing! Without the AC you should not stay inside! That is exactly why most homes used to be built with porches and porticos so that you had a chance to catch a breeze occasionally. Many of these older homes had sleeping porches on the second floor, screened in to keep the bugs out and high up to get a better shot at catching a breeze.
That is exactly why every church had these cardboard fans in the pews so that during the time you were stuck in the building you could generate some air circulation. Windows in office buildings were made to open because most of those buildings were constructed before air conditioning.
Humidity is a serious thing. Being outdoors in high humidity is difficult on your system. Breathing is harder and fatigue sets in earlier. You can get muscle cramps, suffer from hyperthermia and in extreme cases you can get heat stroke. The latter can be deadly. Your body temperature spikes, and you become a furnace causing your body to speed everything up to the point that you cannot tolerate it.
No wonder humidity is my enemy!
Want to explore how humidity affects your health and environment? Visit Verywell Health’s guide to humidity and health risks, HealthPartners’ blog on humidity-related illness, and Houston Methodist’s overview of humidity’s impact.
If the weather is wearing you down emotionally or physically, therapy can help. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support seasonal resilience and emotional clarity.
By Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst
