It is a common problem which occurs on exposure to high temperatures. It is a situation in which the body gets dehydrated. Here are stated its popular myths.
Eating spicy foods will increase the chances of heat exhaustionStrangely, this is wrong. Even though it sounds logical to pursue a comparatively bland diet in the extreme heat, the exact opposite is more effective. Just check out the cuisines of the hottest regions, e.g. Malaysian, Indian, Mexican, Middle East etc. People from these insanely hot climates tend to eat some of the spiciest cuisine. They are not crazy and neither is it a habit they can’t get rid of. It is not even just for the flavor or taste. Consuming a spicy or hot meal promotes sweating, which helps to bring down the body temperature as much of the body heat is released through sweat. But it only goes right when you drink apt amount of cool water to remain hydrated, else you’ll lose minerals from the body in the form of perspiration.Sports drinks will help fight heat exhaustionThe truth is, sports drinks are loaded with electrolytes, glucose and vital minerals. They will definitely help you fight the heat but only if you’re an athlete. Why the discrimination? According to renowned nutritionist Dr. Radler, sports drinks are made keeping in mind the special requirement of athletes who are involved in extreme physical activity, even if under the harshest conditions. Hence, their bodies require more electrolytes and sugar than the rest of us. For people who do not need the special electrolyte balance, the extra glucose might experience inverse results. This might include a sudden rise in blood pressure and blood sugar, and constant thirst etc. However, you must avoid carbonated water, cola, caffeinated beverage and alcohol as much as possible during the summer days. Try cold water, it’s safe and useful for everyone.You don’t have to worry about the regular medicinesDo just the opposite. Please take caution while consuming over-the-counter drugs. Prescription drugs too might require modification during the summer days, get in touch with your physician. According to a research conducted by the American Academy of Family Physicians or AAFP, there are some medicines that can deregulate blood pressure and increase body temperature. This makes it more daunting for your body to control body heat. Among these medicines diuretics and beta blockers etc. are most risky. Avoid spending much time in the heat if you’re undergoing any sort of treatment that involves using such drugs. Share your concern with your physician or pharmacist about the changing weather and the possible side effects that might be caused from the drugs they’ve prescribed.It’s easier to cope with the Texan summer than New York summer
False and completely misleading, do not attempt to do this. It is only so if you are a Texan or if you have been born and brought up in a place with warm climate. Texans cope with summer better than New Yorkers as they are acquainted with it, just as a Londoner will not feel like wearing an overcoat in an Indian winter. After spending a lot of time in hot weather, people acclimatize to it and find it less bothersome. This is why more people die in heat waves in Northern cities. They simply aren’t accustomed to blistering temperatures, the American Academy of Family Physicians reports.
If the person is urinating, then it’s obviously not seriousOne cannot emphasize enough the fallacy of this myth. This is a very common misconception and it leads to further complications. People tend to think that it’s not serious enough until the kidneys have stopped producing urine from heat exhaustion. If you wait for your urination to stop, then you’ll make a grave mistake. Urine does not always stop completely, but it changes its color towards yellow and light brown. This is when you must rush to Emergency. There are other warning symptoms that your body signals, e.g physical exhaustion, dizziness, confusion, nausea, loss of appetite, headache, excessive and insatiable thirst, dryness of the eyes and skin etc.Dry heat is worse, it has the bad qualities of both summer and winterOne would suppose so. Chapped lips during mid-April are desired by none. But dryness during summer is actually better than high humidity. Because in dry heat you’ll sweat less and lose fewer body salts and minerals. While in humid heat, profuse sweating will make it more difficult for your body to maintain the electrolyte balance. Besides, there is the sticky feeling and formation of bacteria and fungus which can cause many skin diseases. But in either climate condition, make sure to stay cool by avoiding going out during the hottest hours of the day. Replace lost body fluid and regulate body temperature by drinking plentiful amount of water and juices.If you feel as if you’re about to pass out from the heat, jump into the poolThis practice will surely get you killed or get you close to it. It’s quite tempting, when the body is heavily heated, to jump into a pool or splash a bucketful of water on yourself. However, this increases the risk of a heat stroke and you may even catch cold or fever. Don’t be an adrenaline junkie, sit down under the fan for a while and wipe off the sweat. Do not bathe right away after a sweat bath. If you experience any symptoms of heat stroke, consider getting medical treatment. Heat stroke may create confusion, disorientation and other neurological symptoms which lead to taking poor decisions. It is also not recommended to enter an air-conditioned room right away after a walk in the sun or vice-versa.Age does not matter, everyone is equally vulnerable to the heatUnfortunately the sun is a little biased and a bit cruel towards the young and the elderly during summer. The very young and the much older people are prone to suffer from heat strokes. The persons who suffer from heat related illnesses or heat strokes, mostly survive and recover fully. However, if not treated promptly and properly, heat strokes can even cause death, it’s no joke! According to a recent survey, about 400-500 people die of heat stroke every year in the US. Some survive but do develop continuing medical problems afterward. The treatment should be as per symptom and based on the level of the exhaustion. A mild to moderate dehydration can be treated at home with multiple doses of oral re-hydration liquids or glucose etc. But a severe case of dehydration and stroke can even cause death unless medical attention is received in time.Heat exhaustion will only occur when we get very hot due to an extremely warm environmentNot necessarily. You’ll always find at least one person who easily works outside during the hottest part of the day without becoming exhausted. Then there are people who can’t stand the heat even inside their homes sitting under a fan. It is your resistance to heat that matters. Just like prepubescent children and the elderly are more vulnerable to heat, similarly there are several other factors than age which make people more prone to heat exhaustion. For example, longstanding or chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart problems and lung dysfunctions etc can aggravate heat exhaustion. These diseases weaken our immunity and we lose our stamina. One might also suffer from a heat stroke without the elevated body temperature.
