Heatwave Increases Risk of Dehydration in Nepal

Kathmandu. Heat has started increasing in the southern part of Nepal. Due to the sudden increase in heat, there can be a lack of water in the body, dry throat, and dizziness. The eyes may turn red or the urine may turn yellow. If you are experiencing such problems, it could be a warning sign for your health. Lack of water and electrolytes in the body can have serious effects on health. Such effects are called dehydration, meaning lack of water in the body. According to former president of Indian Medical Association Maharashtra Dr. Avinash Bhondwe, dehydration can lead to serious conditions. Due to continuous sweating in the heat, not only the amount of water in the body decreases, but also the amount of salt. You might think that you don't sweat when you are in AC. But staying in AC all the time makes you feel less thirsty. Health experts say this can have adverse and long-term effects on the body. If the body is not taken care of properly in rising temperatures, it can have serious health consequences. Therefore, health experts emphasize necessary care. When does dehydration occur?

• Dehydration can occur due to heat stroke from staying in the strong sun for a long time.
• Along with this, this problem also appears when the overall temperature is high.
• Lack of water in the body can also occur due to diarrhea or other illnesses.
• Drinking a lot of alcohol or caffeinated beverages reduces the amount of water in the body.
• This can also happen when taking medication that causes frequent urination.

How to recognize the symptoms of dehydration yourself?

• When you feel very thirsty.
• When the urine is dark yellow and has a strong odor.
• When less urine is produced than normal.
• When feeling dizzy.
• When feeling tired.
• When the mouth, lips, and tongue are dry.
• When the eyes appear sunken.

If you are experiencing such symptoms, you may be dehydrated. In such a situation, efforts should be made to replenish the body's water and salt, and medical help should be sought. When does the body become dehydrated? Many people wonder how to know if the body is dehydrated. The first sign is seen in our urine. If the urine turns yellow or red, it should be understood that the body is dehydrated. Regarding this, Dr. Avinash Bhondwe says, 'When walking continuously in the sun or working near a hot furnace, not only the water in the body decreases, but also the amount of other electrolytes like sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate decreases. If this condition persists for a long time, the amount of magnesium and calcium in the body also decreases.' An adult body contains 60 to 70 percent water. According to Dr. Bhondwe, if there is a significant difference in this water level, our body's metabolism is affected. That is, the food eaten cannot be digested. Also, the person may faint and have difficulty breathing. Bhondwe says that if this condition persists for a long time, it can affect the person's respiratory system and brain, and there is a fear of death. Lack of water also makes the skin dry, he adds. ORS (Jeevanjal) can also be effective According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dehydration is not only caused by drinking less water, but also by diarrhea. During diarrhea, the amount of water and salt decreases. Along with this, salt also decreases from the body during vomiting, sweating, urination, and breathing, according to the World Health Organization. In such a situation, the person becomes lethargic, faints, their eyes become sunken, and they do not feel like drinking water. According to the World Health Organization, such a condition can be a severe form of dehydration. Doctors advise drinking ORS (Jeevanjal). An ORS packet contains sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium citrate, and glucose. 'Drinking only water is not enough' Dr. Revat Kaninde, a medical officer at JJ Hospital in Mumbai, says, 'If you want to avoid dehydration in the heat, drinking only water is not enough. You should also consume other fluids along with water.' Dr. Revat further says, 'In the current severe heat, drinking plenty of water is essential. But the body's thirst is not quenched. To prevent dehydration, we should drink fluids like sherbet, fruit juice, buttermilk, and kokum sherbet.' He also says that drinking sugarcane juice and buttermilk mixed with a little salt is beneficial for the body. Dr. Revat says, 'Maintaining the right amount of water in the body during summer is important. Generally, 70 percent of our body is water.' Although the body needs water, experts say that drinking too much water at once is not advisable. Therefore, the only solution is not to forget to drink water when thirsty, according to experts. Experts advise avoiding drinking two or three glasses of water at once when thirsty. It is better to drink water slowly. Drinking too much water at once reduces appetite due to pressure on the stomach. Dr. Kaninde also gives the following advice regarding summer diet: Avoid eating oily food from outside in the heat. Eat before leaving home or carry your snacks with you. Sour fruits are considered good for Vitamin C. Watermelon, oranges, sweet lime, grapes, mangoes, and pomegranates should be included in the diet. Amla, kokum, and raw mango also contain elements like Vitamin C, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. What to do if children are dehydrated? The heat is as troublesome for adults as it is for children. Since schools are closed in summer, children stay at home. Then they play during the summer. In such a situation, the risk of them being affected by the heat also increases. Children do not care about their thirst and hunger when they go to play. You must have experienced this yourself. Then the heat outside and lack of water in the body start causing problems. Therefore, parents need to pay special attention to their children, says Dr. Hemant Tahilramani of Amrita Hospital in Faridabad. Dr. Hemant Tahilramani suggests some ways to prevent dehydration in children: Parents should pay attention to whether children are drinking water throughout the day. When children go out to play, they should be sent with a water bottle. They should not be sent to play directly in the strong sun. Include watery fruits and vegetables like watermelon, cucumber, oranges, and strawberries in their diet. Children should not be sent to play in the sun between 10 am and 4 pm. Children should be dressed in loose and light-colored clothes. If children are severely dehydrated, they should be given ORS (Jeevanjal) immediately. (Published by Collective Newsroom for BBC)