With temperatures increasing and touching new heights in twin cities, cases of heat strokes and other health related problems have also started increasing exponentially.
According to reports from city hospitals, a large number of sunstroke cases, often fatal, get reported every year in May
Heatstroke is the cause of overheating of the body. In extreme hot conditions the body loses its ability to dissipate the heat leading to rise in body temperatures. Heatstrokes are also caused due to dehydration when the body does not sweat quickly and dissipate heat. This leads to rise in body temperature and causes heatstroke.
Many people neglect the heatstroke and other heat related problems during summer season, as a result these problems which can be prevented with some care, turn to into serious health problems like heart stroke, explains Dr Ahrar, general physician, Care Hospital.
The common symptoms of heatstroke include high body temperature, rapid pulse, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, fatigue, headache, muscle cramps and aches and dizziness. Even seizures occur sometime.
Due to rise in body temperatures and dehydration, blood gets thicker and immediately leads to heat stroke. Even problems like fainting, vomiting, diarrhoea, disorientation, aggravating of migraine occur. Therefore heatstroke has to be treated as a medical emergency, cautions Dr Ahrar.
First Aid: If a person is affected with heatstroke the first thing to be done is to bring him under shade and cool his body with a wet cloth. He has to be given water or coconut water or Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS). If he does not recover or show signs of improvement even then, he has to be rushed to a doctor.
Precautions to be taken
Avoid going out in sun between 12 noon and 4 pm.
Avoid dark colours, wear light coloured cotton clothes. Tight fitting clothes should be avoided.
Wear a cap or carry umbrella to protect from sun.
Avoid spicy food, alcohol, tea and coffee
Drink plenty of water
Ensure ventilation at homes and offices
Care should be taken not to leave kids locked in a parked car, as rise of temperature inside the car may lead to heatstroke for the child.