Desert won’t make blood run thin, but you acclimate

Today’s question:

Here’s a question from a new snowbird: I constantly hear from longtime residents originally from the Midwest that after living here awhile, your “blood will thin” and that’s why so many of them wear Ugg boots and gloves when it’s in the 60s, while I’m wearing shorts and a T-shirt. Is there any truth to this? Nope.

Your blood doesn’t get thinner after you move here. There is anecdotal evidence that your hair may grow faster and your feet may get wider in a warm climate, but your blood doesn’t thin.

What changes is the way your body reacts to the change in temperatures.

When colder weather sets in, those tiny blood vessels near the surface of your skin move inward to help you conserve heat. When it warms up, those tiny blood vessels move closer to the surface of your skin to help you throw off heat.

What changes when you move from one climate to another is the temperature that triggers those changes and the speed and efficiency with which your body makes them.

So after you live in the desert for a long time, the more you shiver in the 60s while your snowbird guests are working on their tans.

While watching online/TV or attending a professional golf event, I’ve noticed the players are represented by their country’s flag.

Why are the players from England represented by a white flag with a red cross, instead of the well-identifiable Union Jack? This causes commotion for me.

This causes commotion for you? That’s an interesting way of putting it. Allow me to dis-commote you.

The white flag with the red cross — St George’s Cross — is the flag of the Kingdom of England, including Wales. The Union Jack is the national flag of the United Kingdom — England, Scotland and Ireland.

Have a question for Clay? Reach him at 602-444-8612 or clay.thompson@ arizonarepublic.com