HEAT EXHAUSTION

Heat Exhaustion is a heat-related illness that occurs after you've been exposed to high temperatures causing the body to overheat. The body also becomes dehydrated.

Although heat exhaustion isn't as serious as another heat-related illness - heatstroke - it isn't something to be taken lightly. Without proper intervention, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke, which can damage the brain and other vital organs, and even cause death.

Risk factors for heat exhaustion

The risk of heat-related illness dramatically increases when the environmental temperature climbs to 26°C or higher.

If you live in an urban area, you may be especially prone to develop heat exhaustion during a prolonged heat wave, particularly if there are stagnant atmospheric conditions and poor air quality.

Other risk factors associated with heat-related illness include:

Age - Infants and children up to age four, and adults over 75 years old, are particularly vulnerable because they adjust to heat more slowly than other people.

Health conditions - These include heart, lung or kidney disease, being obese or underweight, having high blood pressure, diabetes, mental illness, sickle cell trait, alcoholism, sunburn and any conditions that cause fever.

Medications - These include diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers, stimulants, some heart and blood pressure medications and medications for psychiatric conditions.

Some General Instructions for Heat Exhaustion

Given below are some of the adjustments you can make to your diet:

• Eat a high amount of fresh fruits and vegetables and especially those that have a cooling effect on the body and contain a lot of water.

• Avoid any food items that are high in salt, as excess sodium could hamper the regular production of sweat in the body.

• Dehydration is a key factor in heat illness. Help your bodies sweat and cool down by staying well-hydrated with water. Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink fluids.

• Drink an additional amount of fluids, like fresh juice or an energy drink as it could replenish the levels of water in your body.

• Coconut water is a great natural electrolyte solution. It has a very similar nutrient make up to human blood plasma and is very nourishing during any physical activity. If you know you are going to be out in the hot sun for any amount of time try to keep this on hand.

• Consume some buttermilk, made from yogurt. Not only is this very cooling, but can also be great for the overall health.

• Add healthy sources of protein to your diet, which mainly include nuts, pulses and olive oil. This will steady your blood sugar levels, thereby preventing heat strokes.

Home Remedies:

• A juice made of green mango pulp and ripe tamarind should be given to the patient. These are considered to be very good and effective for both the conditions.

• Also green coconut water is a very good medication in such a condition. This can be taken as much as possible without any harm.

• Roasted raw mango is also an effective remedy for the treatment of heat stroke.

• Even onions are good to guard from heat strokes. Roast an onion in open pan and add some sugar and cumin seeds to onion. Consume this mixture to prevent from excessive heat. Onions taken in any form will keep away from the heat in summers.

• Plums are also best remedy for excessive heat. Soak some plums in cold water, mash them in the soaked water. The mixture should be drained and the water must be consumed.

• Coriander juice or coriander in any form should be taken in summers. Also chutney prepared from coriander and mint leaves is very effective in keeping the body cool. Juice of basil leaves also acts as a natural sunscreen and guards the skin from excessive heat.