Heat, Humidity, and Health Care

What’s been strange for me is the relative constancy of the climate—the sun rises and sets about the same time every day, and the temperature never varies by much. It’s either rainy or dry, but the plants (seemingly) are always green and growing. Each season is marked by a date on the calendar rather than a change in temperature.

Panama’s geography is almost incomprehensible. The country is an S-shaped isthmus linking Central and South America (sometimes called a land bridge) about 8° north of the equator. Its shape makes Panama the only country in the world where it’s possible to watch the sun rise over the Pacific and set in the Atlantic. 

One of our great joys is sitting on our balcony every morning to drink coffee and watch the sun rise over the Punta Pacifica neighborhood that juts out into Panama Bay. The bay is the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.

Sunrise over Punta Pacifica

Locals say Panama has two distinct seasons: winter, which is rainy and runs from May through November, and summer, which is dry and runs from December through April. During the rainy season it’s common for heavy rains to fall for an hour or so in the afternoons and flood low-lying streets.

We only experienced one (short) tropical storm, which caught the city unaware in late July. Strong winds uprooted trees, sent outdoor furniture flying, and broke windows. We lost the blades to an outdoor ceiling fan and a large wicker planter from our balcony on the 26th floor. Still, there has never been a recorded landfall of a hurricane in Panama.

Walking in the city is more challenging than in the U.S. because sidewalks—where they exist—are uneven and often cracked or broken. Large gaping holes are left uncovered and unmarked, and it can be a big step off the sidewalk to the street.

My biggest challenge has been the combined heat and humidity. I knew that Panama was a tropical country, but I overestimated my ability to deal with the climate on a daily basis. The average annual high temp in the city is 31°C (88°F) with 76 percent relative humidity. By comparison, most people feel comfortable with humidity at 35-50 percent.

Afternoon lessons at the Spanish Panama Language School three blocks from the subway station meant arriving at class in a full sweat. Carrying a couple bags of groceries home from the Riba Smith supermarket, just four blocks from our apartment, was grueling.

Strong sun in San Blas

Local dermatologists are quick to caution that the sun’s UV rays are much stronger in Panama than in the U.S., so we’ve learned the importance of strong sunscreen and hydration. Even though he walks daily, David had a suspected case of heat exhaustion early this year (or possibly a bug from contaminated water) that required a doctor’s visit.

I’ve been impressed with the availability, quality, and cost of health care in Panama, where doctors still make house calls. The doctors and dentist I’ve been to all had training in the U.S. and speak English. If needed, the nearby Pacifica Salud Hospital is partnered with Johns Hopkins to provide specialized services.

Health care costs are extremely low at the public hospitals, and lower than the U.S. at private clinics and hospitals. My last regular six-month cleaning at a private dentist’s office was $60.

Prescription drugs are not covered under any insurance plan and are generally expensive, with each pill sold individually. Unlike in the U.S., pharmacists can recommend and sell you the drugs you need (except for antibiotics and narcotics) for whatever symptoms you have.