BEAT THE HEAT THIS SUMMER AND EVERY SUMMER :-) - An UPDATE

I REPEAT!!!

HEAT WAVE strikes this year again!!! Heat wave is a prolonged period of extreme heat and humidity that can slow down the metabolism of the body to maintain normal body temperature. Increase in temperature will result in overheating of the body that results in heat-related illnesses. Some of the heat-related illnesses are heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat syncope (fainting) and heat rash. Of all these, heat stroke is the worst that could collapse people instantly.

Symptoms and Signs of heat related illnesses: Increased body  temperature but not fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, lethargy, headache, confusion, fainting, dizziness, muscle cramps, seizures and coma.

Heat Rash: Itchy and prickly skin, a common heat allergic symptom that appears with red bumps on the skin.
Heat Syncope or Fainting: Dizziness and fainting as a result of dehydration, heat and hypotension.
Heat Cramps: Involuntary spasms of the muscles, in general legs with significant sweating.
Heat Exhaustion: Tiredness and profuse sweating due to heat exemplifies as headache, nausea, vomiting and muscle cramps.
Heat Stroke: This is a medical emergency that can collapse individuals and will require immediate attention. Main signs of heat stroke are dizziness, muscle cramps and aches, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, headache or head weight, confusion that finally results in coma when the individual collapses.
Never mind, there are many things that one can do to beat the heat!!! BEAT IT – PREVENT OR TREAT IT!

Heat-related illnesses are more common in children up to four years, aged people above 65 years, overweight people, overexertion due to work and/or exercise, mental illness and in chronically ill patients and under certain medications.

Treatment:

a. Heat Stroke: Immediately shift the patient to cool indoors or shady outdoors to the nearest point and remove restrictive clothing. Blow cool air and shower them with cool water. Wrap in cool sheet and place ice packs in armpits, neck and groin. Keep checking the body temperature until near normal. If the individual is awake provide them with plenty to drink and try mouth feeding. Call doc for medical emergency.

b. Heat Exhaustion: Drink plenty of water, eat few salty snacks, rest in shade, have a cool shower and loosen restrictive clothing.

c. Heat Cramps: Rest in a shady place and drink plenty of fluids like water, fruit juices and isotonic solutions, Good to have something salted. Stretch the muscles and seek medical attention if cramps prolongs.

d. Heat Syncope: Rest in a cool and shady place, stretch and relax and drink plenty of fluids. Will need to seek medical attention if required on repeated fainting episodes.

e. Heat Rash: Wearing loose and cotton clothing, keeping cool to reduce sweating and using powder to dust to prevent sweating and dirt accumulation help to prevent heat rash formation.

 

Golden Rules During Heat Waves:

1. Try to stay indoors and avoid peak sunlight hours from 10 AM. to 3 PM.

2. Drink plenty of fluids in various forms but cool and reduce caffeine and alcohol; reduce solid food as well.

3. Replenish the minerals in your body using isotonic juices or increasing high-salt food intake.

4. Prefer cotton, white or pale coloured and loose clothing. Use a hat and apply plenty of sunscreen with SPF – 15 or 30 as per the requirement for UV protection (a good one is with moisturiser in specific for tropical climate).

5. Do your chores, jobs and work outside at a slower pace than normal to reduce exertion and energy loss. 

6. EAT SEASONAL FRUITS - The watery ones like melons and citrus to keep you rehydrated!!! DRINK juices, tender coconut, ice-creams than caffeinated and soft drinks!!! 

7. CARRY a bottle of water, if not at least a BOTTLE that could be filled in and on the way!!! - QUENCH your thirst and even better AVOID THIRST!!!

I wish that the next summer will much more enjoyable!!!