Dr Sharwari Dabhade, Consultant- Internal Medicine, Fortis La femme, GK-II, New Delhi
The sudden rise in the temperature is already a big threat to our health, it is making the body’s natural ability to fight infections weaker and causing some irreversible changes leading to chronic diseases.
An extreme transition in the weather, from harsh winter to spring and now summer has led to a spike in the cases of allergies, dehydration, muscular weakness and some infections.
The number of cases with allergic cough and rhinitis was seen more than usual this year, followed by cases of dehydration due to excessive sweating, leading to fatigue, muscular weakness, low blood pressure, and feeling dizzy. There is also a rise in cases of some viral infections like influenza, herpes, gut infections like amebiasis, salmonella and vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria.
One must watch out for some signs and symptoms of dehydration like feeling extremely tired or easily fatigued, dryness of mouth, nausea, vomiting.
Moderate to a severe loss of fluids can cause electrolyte imbalance in the body which can further lead to complications like muscle cramps, palpitations, and sometimes altered senses.
To avoid all this, we must consume adequate fluids which consist of electrolytes like sodium and potassium. Some sources include coconut water, citrus fruits and juices, lemon water.
Excessive caffeine and sugary drinks like colas cause diuresis and loss of fluids, hence should be avoided.
Water intake up to 2-3 litres a day can not only prevent us from episodes of dehydration but also help in maintaining the body’s thermostat and metabolism.