Ill Effects from Heat

Heat strokes are one of the most illness-causing conditions which, in extreme cases, can even cause death. It majorly occurs in the case of prolonged exposure to the sun and dehydration. The body loses its ability to cool down, the sweat-mechanism fails and the body temperature starts rising (up-to 106 degree Fahrenheit) along with nausea, which even lead to coma in a few cases.

Recently, north India has been facing extreme heat levels. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has even issued a Red-Alert warning for some parts of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. The temperature rose up-to 47 C in parts of NCR, which is calculated as the highest temperature till now. People are cautioned to keep themselves protected against high temperatures as it can lead to a strike in the nervous system of the body. With increasing temperature, number of patients suffering from heat-strokes and exhaustions has increased by 25-35%.

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This summer, people are advised to stay hydrated, extra cautious and prevent prolonged exposure in the heat. Heart, hypertension, diabetes and kidney patients are advised to be more precautions as they are more vulnerable to these problems. If anytime, anybody feels nausea, headache or brain heating-up, immediate precaution steps must be taken to calm and cool down the body of the person. They can be put under a cool shower, given an ice bath or put on the AC.

Few preventive steps for this summer, suggested by Dr. Ajay Agarwal, The Director, Fortis Hospital, Noida, are:

• Keeping yourself hydrated: make sure you have enough fluid intakes and carry water whenever you step out.
• Stay indoors during peak hours: avoid the contact of sun as much as possible. Try to schedule the heavy and exhausting work to evenings or early mornings.
• Do not stay inside a parked car in open: it can be really dangerous and avoid children inside the parked car.
• Cover yourself: make use of scarfs on the head and wear comfortable cotton clothing while going out.
• Using sunscreens for skin: sunscreen creams with a higher SPF can help avoid tanning. Excessive tanning leads to skin damage and skin cancer in specific cases.