BANGALORE:
With the mercury touching a scorching 37 degree Celsius, many Bangaloreans have
been forced to cool off away from their work places. A number of people have
been seeing doctors for heat-related problems over the past few days.
It's difficult
to put an exact figure on the number of those affected by the ailments right
now, but several people were taken to hospital after they complained of
breathlessness or swooned.
Doctors say the
symptoms are typical of the summer, when people are wheeled in for heat cramps,
exhaustion and stroke. "I have purchased bottled water and soda for at
least five people since Saturday," said a traffic constable on MG Road.
"People
have swooned on the road. I help them move to the shade and give them water. In
a few minutes they feel better and leave," he added. Consultant physician
Dr Ramana Rao said the body has the ability to increase or decrease the body
temperature in accordance with the external temperature. In conditions of excess
heat, sweating cools the body.
But when the
temperature goes beyond the body's acceptable limits, it starts showing
symptoms. "These can be nausea and fatigue caused by lack of adequate water
in the body. This is particularly in children," said Dr Rao.
Most of the body
fluids are exhausted through sensible perspiration such as sweat. But there are
several modes of insensible perspiration that can cause dehydration and heat
ailments, he said, adding that heat cramps, exhaustion or strokes are the main
ones. Cramps, usually in the calf muscles, which can make mobility painful are
referred to as heat cramps.
The condition is
caused by poor body conditioning due to excessive heat and inadequate fluid
intake. "In such conditions, it is good to rest for a while in a cool
environment and drink lot of fluids in equal quantities throughout the
day," said Dr Rao.
A little severe
problem is heat exhaustion. Fatigue, irritability, headache, giddiness, muscle
pains and cramps, nausea, vomiting, drop in blood pressure and fainting occur
when exposed to severe heat.
Replacement of
exhausted fluids must be done. "We have seen cases of heat cramps and
exhaustion," said Manipal Hospital consultant neurologist Dr N K
Venkataramana.
But what can
cause concern among doctors is the heat stroke. "We have not seen this
problem in Bangalore yet. But if people don't take adequate fluids it would no
more be a rarity," he said.
*Source:Times
of India ,Thursday
dated – May 4 , 2006.*