Be Smart, Stay Hydrated & Enjoy This Summer
With temperatures shooting up everyday, this summer is likely to witness a large number of summer-related diseases. As it’s time for vacations, most of us are likely to spend more time outdoors, thus increasing our exposure to suns rays and hotter temperatures. Heat related ailments can really be harmful if not addressed immediately. Appropriate precautions should be taken to protect ourselves and family from these ailments.
Children, the elderly, and those
working outdoors are to be extra careful during summer as they are most
vulnerable to the heat. Most common heat-related diseases that effect people
during this season include dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat cramp, skin diseases,
heat (or sun) strokes and water-borne diseases like diarrhea.
It is imperative to take proper
safety measures when you develop muscle cramps in the legs or get fatigued and
feel weak after staying out in the sun. These are first symptoms of heat cramps
and heat exhaustion. Dehydration, heat stroke and diarrhea are major diseases
of concern this summer.
Dehydration
Dehydration, loss of fluids,
water and electrolytes in the body, is a major problem in this season. It
increases the risk of heat stroke. Every day we lose body fluid through
sweating, excretion, breathing and tears. These body fluids can generally be
replaced by drinking water, juices and consuming foods that have water.
Symptoms of dehydration include thirst, light-headedness, dry skin, fatigue,
less-frequent urination, dizziness, muscle cramping and dry mouth. Children may
also experience irritability, dry mouth & tongue, lack of vigour &
energy, less or no frequent urination (for over 3 hours), depressed cheeks,
abdomen or eyes, high fever and skin that does not flatten when pinched.
Precautions:
If detected early, dehydration
can be cured at home under a doctor’s care. Serious cases of dehydration should
be treated as medical emergencies and hospitalization may be needed.
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Drink plenty of fluids during exposure to heat
and sun (more fluids than your body loses)
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If possible, avoid outdoor activities in hot sun
(between 1:00PM to 4:00PM)
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Use adequate protection like caps, umbrellas,
masks, etc. if you are outdoors in hot sun
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Consume fresh fruit juices to help maintain
electrolyte balance
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Consumption of boiled and cooled water is
mandatory for infants, young children and the elderly
Heat stroke (sun stroke)
Heat stroke (or sun stroke)
occurs due to overexposure to sun and/or extremely high temperatures. The
ailment is the most severe form of heat illness and can be fatal if timely
medical attention is not given. Heat stroke can lead to permanent damage of
internal organs or results in death as well. Not sweating enough to lower the
body temperature is the primary symptom of heat stroke. The condition can
develop quickly and needs immediate medical attention.
Human body produces heat, which
is dissipated generally through sweating. However, under certain circumstances such
as high humidity, severe heat, or vigorous physical activities in the sun our
system might not dissipate heat quickly. This causes our body temperature to
rise to a dangerous level. Dehydration can cause heat stroke if a person cannot
sweat enough to cool his body.
Heat stroke symptoms may include
headache, dizziness, high body temperature, dry, flushed and hot skin without
sweat, confusion or disorientation, fatigue or sluggishness, rapid heart beat,
seizure and hallucinations. If someone is stricken with heat stroke, move the
person indoors, remove clothes, apply ice packs to groin and armpits, apply
cool water and fan to stimulate sweat and call for medical assistance
immediately.
To prevent heat stroke follow the
precautions for dehydrations
Diarrhea
Diarrhea, another common disease
associated with summers, is passing loose and watery stools three or more times
a day. It is generally not harmful, but can be dangerous or signal more serious
complications if persists beyond two. Diarrhea lasting more than two days may
be a sign of a more serious problem.
In summers, Diarrhea generally
occurs due to food poisoning, a health hazard faced due to consumption of
contaminated food. Summer season is characterized by high heat as well as
humidity that are considered as main factors for high contamination of food
with bacteria, since bacteria thrive in these conditions.
Precautions
Many cases of diarrhea are spread
from person-to-person.
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People caring for sick adults or children should
wash their hands carefully after changing diapers, or helping an individual use
bathroom
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Children should be instructed to wash their
hands frequently, especially after using the bathroom
Practice safe food-handling (always
wash hands before and after handling food)
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Cook food completely to the right temperature
and store it in clean containers
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Raw fruits and vegetables consumed should be
rinsed thoroughly in clean water
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Children should not be allowed to have snacks or
other eatables from outside. Give them more fluids to flush out any toxins in
their body
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Spicy foods have the tendency to get spoilt
easily due to the onion garlic contents. So they have to be handled carefully
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Do not consume foods from street vendors
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Use utmost caution when traveling, especially to
other states or countries
Take these general precautions to
enjoy this summer.
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Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing (avoid
black colour clothes in summer)
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Wear hats, sunglasses and use umbrella to
protect from sun
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Take regular water breaks while you are outdoors
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Limit exposure to sun on hot or humid days
Be safe, be smart, stay hydrated
and enjoy your summer!
