Summer Health Alerts

Summer is here , the day temperatures in the valley are steadily going up and the next few months are going to be hotter with temperatures going up to 35 degrees Celsius. Mornings and late evenings though generally cooler can also become very warm. Last year saw 3^rd July with a temperature of 35.6 degrees Celsius as the highest temperature recorded in the last 25 years. The Jammu region of our UT, gets the full summer of north India with temperatures close to 45 degrees and sometimes even more.

The modern houses in the valley are made with winter in mind, with poor ventilation and limited windows. In the traditional Kashmiri houses, the ground floor is meant for winter (Wout) and the top most floor (Kayeni) with lot of windows and attics (Dabb) for circulation of air. These are cooler on most of the days in mornings, evenings and nights, especially in the river front houses and also houses located in villages with lot of greenery around. These houses have become a part of our history even in the villages.

Hot weather has its own problems besides being uncomfortable for subjects with high blood pressure, previous heart attacks, brain strokes. Specially affected are the vulnerable population suffering from these medical problems.

The patients with previous heart attacks and heart failure (patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction, LVEF),in  order to keep the body cool produces more sweat. It leads to heart pump harder. This can be an additional strain producing breathlessness, extreme fatigue and at times transient loss of consciousness. All the medicines however need to be taken but a consultation with the treating physician sought to review the treatment especially those drugs which reduce blood pressure.

Staying in cooler parts of the house during the summer especially during the peak temperature is helpful. Increasing the water intake is important, even if one is not feeling thirsty. Consuming at least 1 to 1.5 litres is important. This could be in the form of lemon squeezed in cold water or fresh fruit juices. Avoid drinking too much of tea, coffee and caffeinated drinks. These cause loss of fluid from the body. Eating cold foods, fruits with high water content like melon, citrus fruits, and salads should be preferred. highly spiced food also is not desirable in summer; it leads to excessive need of water to quench the thirst. One of the guides is the colour of the urine. If the urine appears concentrated and yellowish it is a sign of dehydration.

Clothes which one wears are also important. Wear light and loosely fitting clothes of lighter colours. Darker colours especially black absorbs more heat and transmit it to body.  For this reason, those who are used to wear Phiran, especially the village dwellers should use summer phiran’s made of cotton, which are lighter.  Avoid walking in heat, walk in shade and avoid extreme physical exertion. Carry a bottle of clean filtered water along with you to quench the thirst.

Tips for patients with heart problems:

Patients with angina (chest discomfort on exertion) can worsen during summer because of increased demand of oxygen by the heart. In such situations the drug treatment may need modification. They are also advised to restrict their activities on very hot days.

Patients with high blood pressure often need dose adjustment of their drugs because of water loss due to sweating, the pressures have a tendency of coming down. The water pill called diuretics (like torsemide, chlorothiazide) etc may need to be stopped. other medicines also sometimes need tweaking in dose. Please remember BP in subjects on pills should be 130/80 mm Hg, pressures below 120/80 have no additional benefits and sometimes may be harmful also. A physician however should be consulted before changing the dose.

Patients with weak hearts (Low LVEF) and heart failure need to revisit their doctor to get the advice regarding the amount of fluid intake allowed. The doses of the water pills (diuretics) often need to be curtailed. One of the signs of excessive dosage is getting exhaustion, weakness and light headedness and BP below 100 mms Hg.

Patients with valve replacement surgeries taking oral anti coagulants (Warfarin or Acitrom) also needs their blood tested for prothrombin time, INR. With dehydration and changes in food it may become out of range, the range of acceptable INR for these patients is 2 to 3 and doses may need modification.

The most vulnerable population to get affected by excessive heat are children and elderly population who need proper counselling. The most common symptoms of heat exhaustion are: Headache, dry skin, dizziness and light-headedness, weakness, nausea and vomiting and dark urine.

Summer in Kashmir though short lasting needs to be taken seriously. This is in particular important for patients with heart diseases, strokes and high blood pressure. Proper hydration by adequate fluid intake, wearing light-coloured loose garments, eating less spicy food with plenty of fruits, salads and vegetables. In general, a consultation with your treating doctor is important at the beginning of the season.

Prof Upendra Kaul, Founder Director Gauri Kaul Foundation