Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | NXg | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Photo: Lingaraj Panda

A GOOD IDEA Carry an umbrella

Summer is here in earnest, with blazing heat and its accompanying medical problems. Hot weather and high humidity can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Children and older people particularly are prone to heat exhaustion and it is essential to make them drink enough fluids.

Our bodies need to be kept at a normal, constant temperature of approximately 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) to help protect our brain and internal organs. As the external temperature rises, our sweat glands start pouring out sweat. As our sweat evaporates, it helps to cool us down. However, high humidity can interfere with the evaporation process and, as a result, our body temperature remains elevated.

When exposed relentlessly to heat, and without adequate replacement of body fluids lost due to sweating, a person can become overheated and dehydrated. As the body temperature rises, the blood vessels under the skin dilate. The skin becomes flushed and feels hot. There is pooling of blood in the lower limbs and when the person stands up from a seated position, she might feel light-headed and might faint.

If left untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke, which occurs when the body’s temperature rises to dangerous levels (more than 105 degrees Fahrenheit).

Older adults are at high risk for heat stroke due to the decreased thirst mechanisms that occur with age. They tend to become dehydrated much faster. It is advisable for older adults to remain indoors on very hot days, as well as during the times of day when the heat is at its peak (usually between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.).

If you absolutely must go out into the heat, make sure that you drink at least 1 to 2 glasses of water before you leave home. Be sure to carry water with you. Buttermilk with salt or lime juice with salt will ensure that you replace the salt that you lose from sweating. Avoid hot drinks like coffee and tea because the caffeine can make your heart race and worsen the problem. Soft drinks can aggravate the dehydration because of the amount of sugar they have.

Wearing a hat or visor will help block the sun from your face and may also help prevent headaches due to the heat. An umbrella is a good idea if you will be in the sun for long periods of time.

Summer is also the time when you can be prone to urine infections. Remember that burning during urination can also occur when you are dehydrated and the urine is very concentrated. To confirm that you have a urinary infection, a test of the urine must show more than 10 pus cell per high power field. A culture and sensitivity test of the urine must be done and an antibiotic must be started only if it shows a significant bacterial growth.

The pain hit suddenly and without warning. Sumitra bent double as she felt the pain shoot from her right flank (loin) to her groin. The pain came and went in spasms, leaving her crying and writhing in pain. Sumitra has a stone in her ureter (the tube which leads from the kidney to the bladder).

Problems due to kidney and ureteric stones tend to get highlighted in the summer months because people are likely get dehydrated. When there is not enough fluid intake, the stones do not get washed out and lead to problems. When the stone is stuck in the ureter, the ureter keeps contracting to push the stone out. This can cause intense pain.

Ureteric stones are usually just a few millimetres in size. The treatment is conservative to begin with. Injections are given to relieve the pain. Intravenous and oral fluids are given to correct the dehydration and to help wash the stone out. Every time urine is passed, it is run through a filter to confirm that the stone has come out. Surgery is usually not required.

Staying cool and well hydrated is the answer to some of summer’s problems.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail