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@Remittancegirl @radioclash @noodlemaz
Having slept through it (with a fan!), I think that my motivation for participating / writing this (I rarely do) was: yes, sudden heatwaves in places where 30+°C temperatures don't happen regularly are truly *worse*, and dangerous, *because* our bodies aren't ready for it.
Moreover, unsuitable buildings and lack of know how make it even worse.
[Managed to cycle into work, to find my naturally cool office in the basement! 
]
@noodlemaz @UkeleleEric @Remittancegirl
That's fair enough. If they do, they do. So does "room temperature drinks" work for you (it is my own default, TBH)?
(Asking because bodies are complicated and not all the same, so I genuinely don't know!)
Anyway, +1 (and then some) for the excellent advice.
Go SLOW (really!). Take ambient-temperature showers, or even warm, but NOT cold!
Hot drinks work, actually (also make you adsorb the water faster).
5/5
But, when I visit family in Italy, my first steep cycling climb fails (2 years in a row). Body gives up and says "no more". Then the day after (with legs that should be already tired) it's fine. Only explanation I have is that the 1st failure acts as a strong signal: body needs to adapt to the heat - right now.
I might be wrong, but it's the only explanation I have, and fits with the observations of how long it takes for bodies to adapt to the heat.
4/n
I had a mild heatstroke once hiking on a holiday, got around 30-35°C, steep uphill walk, unshaded slope, on the day after arriving from the UK.
At some point I realised *I was not sweating* (!!!), not at all, despite drinking plenty. Turned right back when I noticed, but was a little bit too late. I never thought this was possible.
Now I cycle at least once a week, which keeps my ability to sweat ready for use (phew).
3/n
As an Italian in the UK, I deliberately make efforts to get my body-adaptations going, when the season changes. And it works. 1st few times the T drops below 18C in Autumn feel awful, and come December it's the norm and I don't mind.
It's harder with extreme heat, as I can't make it happen regularly and on command, but I find that ability/disposition to sweat does respond to "training".
2/n
I'd also want to remind people that bodies adapt, but in their own time (48h or more, normally, IMO, longer if you don't "shock" them hard, see next toots).
Going up to 40°C where winters are cold and in the Summer the ordinary max daily temperature is in the low 20°C is tough.
If, however, one has weeks hovering between 26 and 35°C and then T goes up to 40, then (most) bodies are prepared and will cope a LOT better.
1/n