Doctors advise residents to stay indoors in afternoons

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 25

With the mercury expected to cross 40 degrees Celsius mark or more this summer, incidents of heat stroke are expected to rise rapidly. Experts have advised the city people, especially children and elderly, not to go out in the sun during afternoons to avoid heat stroke.

According to professor and head of Neurology, Dr Gagandeep Singh, “Heat stroke or sun stroke is an emergency medical condition, which occurs when the core body temperature rises above 41.1 degree Celsius, is associated with neurological problems.”

“It can kill or cause damage to the brain and other internal organs. The symptoms of heat stroke include heat cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, nausea, seizures and even loss of consciousness,” he said.

“With each passing year, the number of heat stroke-related deaths is rising because of global warming. Young people, who work under the scorching heat of sun for hours altogether, are more prone to a heat stroke. In our country, it occurs commonly during May and June,” he added.

A medicine specialist at the Civil Hospital, Dr Avinash Jindal, said if possible people should avoid going out in the sun. He said residents should go out before noon and come back only after sun sets.

“One should always carry an umbrella and a water bottle along. Lemon or glucose water will help further. Besides, applying sunscreen lotion twice a day before stepping out in the sun is also beneficial,” he said.