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Last Updated: Monday, 3 July 2006, 06:14 GMT 07:14 UK
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Heat wave: keeping your cool
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Make sure you drink lots of water - not tea, coffee or alcohol
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It may be difficult to believe if you live in Scotland, but much of Southern England is in the grip of a heat wave.
Temperatures across England and Wales have soared to well over 30 degrees - and it hasn't been getting much cooler overnight.
The weather's expected to break, with a series of thunder storms today - but the top temperature could still be around 27 degrees (80 Fahrenheit).
On this page, we've been rounding up the week's advice on the heatwave
On Wednesday's Breakfast
Today, we looked at sleeping in the heat.
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Sleeping in a heatwave: top tips
Open your bedroom window - close it when you go to bed if it's too noisy outside
Use a fan in the bedroom
Choose cotton nightclothes and sheets, not synthetic
Keep the room as dark as possible
Take a damp towel to bed
Avoid alcohol and hot drinks before bed: they raise your temperature
Don't exercise just before bed: you won't cool down
Keep a bottle of water beside the bed
Keep the bedroom curtains closed during the day
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It's not just the hot weather which makes people feel tired and ratty. When it's as hot overnight as it would normally be at mid-day, you just don't get the same quality of sleep.
We sent our reporter Tim Muffett to a sleep laboratory to have his sleep patterns analysed.
And, we got some tips on keeping your cool on hot summer nights, when we talked to sleep physiologist Sue Mills from the University of Surrey.
And we asked for your tips for getting a good night's sleep in the heat
On Tuesday's Breakfast
Mike Davies' Westie is allowed to lounge in the back garden
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We looked at which sort of clothes are acceptable for the office in hot weather.
And, we asked for your heatwave photos. We've used some of them on this page
On Monday's Breakfast:
Stay out of the mid-day sun, says Dr Rosemary
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We got some advice on dealing with the hot weather from our regular GP Dr Rosemary Leonard.
"The heat increases the risk of heart attack and organ failure," she told us.
"You should also look out for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Excessive thirst, nausea and vomiting are all signs that you could be overheating."
At its worst, heat stroke can lead to loss of conciousness - and, as the body loses its ability to control its own temperature - the most serious cases can be fatal.
When temperatures reach Mediterranean levels, you can't continue to behave as though you live in a cold climate, says Dr Rosemary.
If you're doing heavy manual work, make sure you start work in the cool early mornings - and don't plough on through the hottest part of the day (11am- 3pm).
Drink plenty of water, rather than tea or coffee - and definitely not alcohol, which will only make matters worse
Don't wait until you're thirsty: that's a sign that you're already becoming dehydrated.
Allow yourself the odd salty snack, if you've been sweating heavily.
Check on any elderly people who live near you: they're much more vulnerable to the heat because it puts extra strain on organs such as the heart.
And, of course, don't forget a hat and suncream if you're going out.
Dr Rosmary also had some unusual tips for keeping your house cool. For instance, you can freeze a plastic bottle of water and put it in front of a fan, for a cool breeze.
And, you can open the hatch into your loft, to let the hot air rise into the roof space of your house and draw cooler air in at the bottom.
If you're worried that your health may be affected by the heat, you can ring NHS Direct at any time of the day or night: 0845 4647
Send us your pictures
Kay McKenna sent us a photo of her dog Smudge
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If you've got any pictures of the heatwave - from rails buckling in the heat, to eggs frying on pavements, we'd like to see them.
E-mail photos as jpgs to the BBC's central inbox for pictures and we can pick them up from there:
[email protected]
Don't forget to read the terms and conditions - and remember, don't jeopardise your own safety or anyone else's to take your photo.
Send your tips for getting a good night's sleep in a heatwave straight to the Breakfast inbox, using this e-mail form:
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watch Tim Muffett's report and our live interview with sleep expert Sue Mills
