Quench your Thirst, Conquer the Heat!
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Its getting pretty hot outside right? The weather is scorching and the heat is getting unbearable day by day. Have you ever thought of how this will affect us? The rising humidity levels are expected to cause severe environmental problems particularly to the South Asian region, including Sri Lanka.
Human beings have a thermoregulatory system in the body which maintains the internal body at a constant temperature. It is regulated by a part of our brain known as the ‘hypothalamus’. Once the receptors in the skin senses the change in the temperature, the hypothalamus makes sure the accurate temperature is maintained. Do you know what happens if this doesn’t happen? Well, the body goes bonkers! It can even cause death!
Even though the body is sensitive to both temperatures too low(hypothermia) or too high (hyperthermia), I will be talking about consequences of high temperatures. The response to exposure of high temperatures occurs as a sequalae. Heat cramps are fairly mild, then it advances to a heat exhaustion and the most serious form of hyperthermia being the heatstroke. Slight temperature variations can be reversible with behavior changes and physiological responses and it varies from person to person depending on the level of exposure, individual health and how the body reacts to it. Which is why it is crucial to identify the red flags of hyperthermic features as well as to be mindful about how to prevent it. After all, prevention is better than cure right?
To keep the body at a constant temperature, the body produces sweat, which comes to the surface of the skin and evaporates, cooling the body and maintaining the body at a healthy range. Although there are more mechanisms of keeping up with the rising heat, this remains to be the main one. This is why we sweat a lot when it’s hot outside. So you can imagine what happens when there’s not enough water inside the body to cool you! This is why drinking enough water and staying hydrated remains the most important preventative measure in tackling this heat stroke.
Even before the rise in the temperatures, I have noticed many Sri Lankans are reluctant to take their daily water intake, thus leading to increased illnesses such as chronic kidney disease, hypertension. This is why kidney disease is very prevalent in the dry provinces. They simply forget to drink their daily dose of water, with all the work they do under the sun! Even though many people don’t realise these things, a healthy lifestyle can put a stop to many diseases. Drinking adequate water is one of them. So always encourage your friends and everyone close to you to keep a water bottle nearby and drink plenty of water. Consumption of at least 2-3 liters per day is essential to battle the heat. You should be drinking 4-5 liters if you’re more exposed to the heat. So if you’re feeling fresh and rehydrated, it can work wonders for you and your body, even in this weather!
Unnecessary exposure to the sun, wearing heavy or tight clothes, doing strenuous activity in direct sunlight can predispose to hyperthermia. So better to avoid these things.
The initial symptoms of hyperthermia include sudden spasms in the feet, calves, thighs, or hands. These cramps can feel sore after the cramp passes away. Other symptoms include blurred vision, dizziness, fast and shallow breathing, headaches, fatigue and weakness. So if you have these symptoms it is necessary that you take a break from whatever it is that you’re doing and take some time to cool down your body. That is, drink water ( preferably electrolyte replacing drinks) , applying a cool compression to your skin, removing heavy clothing and resting in a cool, ventilated place. If the symptoms persists, you may need to seek further medical assistance, before it progresses to a dire condition and causes irreversible damage to the body.
Certain categories of people are more prone to get more affected due to this weather. They include the extremities of life,children under 4 years and elderly over 65 years, athletes, outdoor laborers and basically anyone who’s exposed to the scorching sun these days. So if you see one, take a minute to remind them to stay hydrated, as it will save their life in the long run, if not in the short run!
It’s high time we looked out for each other as well as look after ourselves. Drink water, Stay hydrated. Let’s battle this heat together.
Priyanjalaa Sumanasekara
Faculty of Medicine,
University of Kelaniya
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