PUNE: Doctors from the city said that there is a rise among patients suffering from dehydration and heat stroke following rising temperatures. They said that many patients do not understand that they have symptoms of dehydration, which later leads to weakness.
Speaking to Sakal Times, Dr Ankur Deshpande, a practising ayurvedic doctor, said up to 60 per cent of the human body is made up of water. The brain and the heart are composed of 73 per cent of water. Lungs are about 83 per cent of water. “Hence, when we lose a considerable amount of water from the body by sweating, diarrhoea or other medical causes, excessive thirst hits first followed by dehydration,” said the doctor.
“There is rise in patients suffering from dehydration and sunstroke because many of them care more about skin tanning and less about hydration. Many patients either drink excess or less water than required. Dehydration also affects every age group. More prominently, it affects players, labourers, postman, salesman and others, who are working out in open during the daytime. Also, those who have to travel on their bike, cycle in heat, sweat more than other people,” said Dr Deshpande.
Speaking to Sakal Times, a doctor from city-based government hospital said that there has been an increase in dehydration cases. “The dehydration is more frequent in young children and senior citizens as they are more outdoors. The best thing is to have seasonal fruits and drink energising natural drinks such as kokam and buttermilk,” said the doctor.
He said that light colour cotton garments should be worn as they are capable of absorbing sweat.
“Many people, who use polyester or synthetic garments, suffer from skin diseases in summer because of non-absorption of sweat. Infusion bottles are available in the market, infuse them with vetiver grass (khas) or lemon to keep hydrated and detoxed as well,” said the doctor.
HEALTH MEASURES IN SUMMER
- Know your thirst and need of water. An adequate amount of water intake is what the body demands.
- Never drink chilled water. This may affect your gut.
- If you are coming from outside, never rush to drink water. Sit, breathe slowly, calm down and then drink water sip by sip.
- Stay away from soda-based drinks. Instead, prefer lemonade or kokam or khas sherbat, which hydrates you by keeping sodium and potassium levels stable.
- Don’’t forget to add a little spoon of sugar to the drink if you are non-diabetic.
- Gulkand is the best remedy for non-diabetic people to keep body temperature stable.
- Use mud pots than refrigerators for cooling water.
SYMPTOMS
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Dark urine (may have a strong odour)
- Inability to urinate
- Dry mouth and nose
- Weakness
- Nausea, vomiting, etc.
