According to medical experts, exposure to outside temperatures above 45°C or 113°F can potentially have life-threatening effects on body including heart diseases and seizures. IMD predicts severe heat conditions across India, here are ways in which you can prevent yourself from these trying conditions (there is a diet included as well)
The IMD said that heat wave will continue in six states for the next five days. (Picture credit: TV9 Bharatvarsh)
New Delhi: According to a latest weather bulletin, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for people living in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana for the next five days. The severe heatwave conditions is said to prevail in Rajasthan from Tuesday to Friday and in parts of Uttar Pradesh on Monday and Tuesday. Additionally, the IMD has predicted that heatwaves are expected in states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, and the hill states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh this week. On Monday morning, Delhi had registered a sweltering minimum temperature of 29.2 degrees Celsius, almost three notches above the seasonal average. This has prompted the closure of many schools and colleges in the area.
Along with the latest heatwave condition, the IMD has also issued important guidelines for people to avoid heat-related illnesses. Before we deep dive into the precautions that one can take to prevent a heat stroke, it’s an imperative to understand what happens to the body when the outside temperature soars.
What happens to your body when there is a heat wave?
Medical experts have listed multiple problems that may occur in the body if it is exposed to this sort of heat conditions. Some scientists have also found a co-relation between heat and brain diseases including depression and dementia. Prolonged exposure to extremely hot temperature over a period of time is bound to cause severe harm to the body, sometimes even resulting in hyperthermia – a condition that can damage the brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles, leading to long-term health issues or death if not promptly treated.
Why does the body react in such an adverse way to heat? Scientifically speaking, this happens because at such high temperatures, the body’s internal ability to regulate its temperature can be overwhelmed. This in turn can lead to a heat stroke.
“The symptoms of heatstroke are quite common – high body temperature (above 40°C or 104°F), loss of consciousness, fatigue are very commonly felt. Some patients may even get seizures due to exposure to the heatwave,” says Dr Tushar Tayal, a consultant of Internal Medicine at the CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram. Does this require medical attention? “Absolutely yes,” he adds.
Heat strokes can have deadly implications if left untreated. “The body loses fluids rapidly through sweating in an attempt to cool down, leading to severe dehydration. This can cause symptoms like extreme thirst, dry mouth, reduced urine output, and in severe cases, confusion, dizziness, and fainting,” says Dr Tayal.
There are other repercussions that severe heat has on the body. Dehydration being the biggest problem. What happens in extreme heat is that the body quickly loses water via sweat (it is a natural reaction in order to aid the body cool down). Without adequate fluids, this can lead to dehydration. “This can result in a deficit that impairs normal bodily functions. There are clear signs of dehydration that your body will give out including dry mouth, dark urine, reduced urination, fatigue, and dizziness. Severe dehydration can cause kidney damage, electrolyte imbalances, and shock,” says Dr Anisha Dutta, internal medicine specialist from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi.
Is there a way to prevent a heat stroke from happening? Or at least to mitigate it’s impact on the body? Experts say there is a way to do so.
9 ways to prevent a heat stroke
There is a doctor recommended way to avoid exposing our bodies to the severe heat conditions prevailing outside. Or at least to mitigate the implications it may have on our body.
- Staying hydrated is cool: One sure short way to save yourself from the damages of extreme heat is to drink plenty of fluids (especially water) throughout the entire day. Do this even when you do not feel thirsty.
- Avoiding caffeine and alcohol will also help the body to retain the loss of fluid.
- Be indoors as much as possible: Spending time indoor is advised (try doing it at the peak heat hours to stay away from the extreme exposure). Living in air-conditioned environments during peak heat hours can also prove to be useful.
- Experts also recommend that one should take cool showers often, and wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
- Avoid strenuous exercises especially during the peak heat hours.
- Use sunscreen while stepping out: Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
- Eat healthy: Give your body adequate nutrition throughout these months by eating right. Binge on seasonal fruits and eating a healthy salad will go a long way in helping your body recover from the scorching heat.
- Avoid having oily and heavy meals: If you can, take care of portion control during severe heat conditions.
- Your body loses a lot of essential nutrients by the way of sweat; try to replenish this by taking added doses of sugar and salt to maintain the body balance.
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