|
People irrespective of age are susceptible to overheating and this can cause some serious health problems |
|
|
|
However, overheating can happen to anyone if you are not careful. Special care is to take by the people with history of stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease and respiratory disease. |
|
|
|
Heavy sweating, pale or clammy skin, fainting, and vomiting are some symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Pay attention to these symptoms. A heat stroke is a true medical emergency. |
|
|
|
A delay in treatment can be fatal. If you know someone who is elderly or fragile, check on him or her to make sure they stay cool. The elderly are much more likely to suffer from heat related illnesses. If a person becomes dehydrated and cannot sweat enough to cool their body, their internal temperature may rise to dangerously high levels, causing heat stroke |
|
|
|
Are your feet and hands swelling? Heat edema is swelling of the hands and feet when blood vessels expand and allow fluid to pool under the skin. Is your skin itchy? Prickly heat is an irritating rash that is caused by a blockage of the sweat pores, usually under clothing. |
|
|
|
Your sweat is your body's main system for getting rid of extra heat. As long as blood is flowing properly to your skin, extra heat from the core of your body is "pumped" to the skin and removed by sweat evaporation. If you do not sweat enough, you cannot get rid of extra heat well. If you have poor circulation it is also difficult to stay cool because your body can't get rid of heat as well if blood is not flowing to the skin. |
|
|
|
Dehydration will make it harder for you to cool off in two ways: if you are dehydrated you won't sweat as much, and your body will try to keep blood away from the skin to keep your blood pressure at the right level in the core of your body. But, since you lose water when you sweat, you must make up that water to keep from becoming dehydrated. If the air is humid, it's harder for your sweat to evaporate – this means that your body cannot get rid of extra heat as well when it's muggy as it can when it's relatively dry. |
|
|
|
Other precautions to consider include: |
|
|
|
| » |
Increase your intake of water “ avoid alcoholic, carbonated, sugar and caffeine drinks”. |
|
| » |
Avoid ice cold drinks. When your tummy receives fluid that is ice cold, your internal body temperature must rise in order to compensate “leading to further internal heat |
|
| » |
Wear clothing that is light in color and loose fitting (let your skin breathe) |
|
| » |
Avoid outdoor activity during the afternoon hours |
|
| » |
Eat less protein and more fruits and vegetables (proteins increase your metabolism which heats you up inside) this leads to further water loss. The fruits and vegetables will add minerals and salts that you are losing in your sweat |
|
| » |
Treat yourself to a cool bath |
|
| » |
If you don’t have air-conditioning, stay in the lowest section of your home if possible. Keep in mind, heat rises. If you have window fans, set the fan to pull hot air out of your home, rather than pulling more hot air in from the outdoors. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Courtesy : Web |
|
|
* Data is at least as current as the most recent Definitive Proxy. |
|
|
* If you want to contribute an article (share your views, experiences and thoughts) write in to us at send us Health / Tips related articles.We promise to give you a chance to put your thoughts across to our visitors. |
|
|
