A heat wave is set to hit this summer and Telegraph UK listed easy guidelines in staying safe and healthy despite in this terrible heat.
The first thing people should avoid is dehydration by drinking lots of water to replenish the fluids our body sweats out.
95% of vegetables like lettuce, cucumber and celery contain is water, so eating fresh salad also helps. Watermelon and other fruits with lycopene also protects us from too much sun exposure.
Foods to avoid include meat, mangoes, artichokes, and asparagus, since these either heat up or dehydrate the body. Alcohol is another diuretic that causes the body to frequently excrete fluid intake which also leads to dehydration.
Experts advise to stay under the shade especially between hours 11 AM to 3 PM when the sun is on its peak.
When staying indoors, aiming the electric fan directly to the body also causes dehydration in temperatures higher than 35°C especially to those who are sick in bed.
Outdoor activities like gardening, exercise or anything that requires physical exhaustion should be done early morning, late afternoon, or in the evening.
Wearing loose and lightweight cotton clothes in this hot weather is advised. Experts also recommend wearing sun screens, hats, sun glasses and clothing to protect the skin.
For old people most especially, too much sun exposure could cause serious health risks such as heat stroke. Heat strokes occur when the temperature reaches over the normal rate of 37 to 38C, to as high as over 40C. This causes dysfunction in the brain that affects the muscles, causing the body cells and other organs to deteriorate. Chances for survival are low despite getting immediate medical help.
According to The Guardian, symptoms of heat stroke include "headache, nausea, red, hot and dry skin, sudden rise in temperature, intense thirst, confusion and aggression, loss of consciousness."
