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To prevent heat stroke
• Wear loose fitting light coloured clothes of natural fibre
• Stay indoors during sunny hours
• If you go outdoors, carry an umbrella or wear a hat
• Try to exercise in the early morning or evening. If you must exercise during the day, use sunscreen and hydrate yourself adequately. Do not allow thirst to set in
• Weigh yourself before and after exercise to monitor fluid loss
n The colour of your urine should be pale yellow. Dark coloured scanty urine and infrequent urination are the first signs of dehydration. |
Temperatures are rising all over the country, power cuts are becoming frequent, and the arrival of the monsoon seems a distant dream. We are all feeling the heat.
Our bodies try to cope with the hot, sultry weather in various ways. As skin temperature rises, blood vessels under the surface of the skin dilate and body heat is lost to the environment by conduction. The increased blood supply also makes the sweat glands work harder. The body gets drenched in sweat and as it evaporates, it dissipates heat.
This process, however, does not work efficiently if the outside temperature is higher than that of the body. If there is more than 60 per cent humidity in the environment, the sweat does not evaporate. It remains as a film on the surface of the body and interferes with conduction. These environmental conditions are likely to occur when there is no cross ventilation or if fans and air conditioners are off because of a power cut.
You should wear clothing made out of natural fibres such as cotton, jute and linen. If you must wear synthetic material, use a 60:40 mix of cotton and polyester. Hundred per cent polyester may look good and be wrinkle free, but it traps heat.
Children under the age of four have inefficient sweat glands so they lose heat only by conduction. People over the age of 65 also gradually lose the ability to sweat efficiently.
In order for sweat to form the body needs to be efficiently hydrated. In summer, fluid intake should be increased to 3-3.5 litres a day. Fluids should be drunk before thirst sets in. Drink plain water, isotonic drinks such as lassi, buttermilk, tender coconut water or mildly salted limejuice. Tea and coffee contain caffeine, which increases dehydration. The same is true of caffeinated cola drinks. Many are hypertonic. They increase thirst and draw fluid from the body cells into the intestine. Alcohol interferes with temperature regulation and should be avoided. When you exercise or play a sport, drink 250ml (one cup) of water two hours before the exercise and every 20 minutes during the activity. Children below four, people over 65, athletes, housewives (who work in hot, unventilated kitchens) and labourers who work in the sun are most susceptible to heat stroke.
Initially, exposure to extreme heat causes cramps with increased sweating, fatigue and thirst. There may be a feeling of giddiness or actual fainting. The stomach can develop intermittent discomfort. There are leg cramps. Massage does not help but stretching relieves the pain temporarily. Then, heat exhaustion sets in. A throbbing headache develops. This may be followed by nausea and vomiting. Move the person to a cooler area immediately, preferably indoors and to an air conditioned area if possible. Give the patient salted limejuice or buttermilk. Sports drinks such as Gatorade or ORS (oral rehydrating solution) is also good. While reconstituting the ORS, the instructions on the packet should be strictly followed.
If these symptoms are ignored the body temperature rises. Once it reaches 105 degrees Fahrenheit, heat stroke sets in. The internal organs start to get damaged. The kidneys shut down. The skeletal muscles get lysed. The central nervous system gets damaged. Confusion, convulsions and coma set in. Eventually death can occur.
Immediately sponge the person down with tepid water. Place ice packs under the armpits and groin. Turn on the fan and air conditioning. Hydrate the person with fluids. It is a misconception that a person whose temperature is high needs to be covered. That only pushes up the body temperature further.
Dr Gita Mathai is a paediatrician with a family practice at Vellore. Questions on health issues may be emailed to her at yourhealthgm@yahoo.co.in
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