CHENNAI: Searing heat probably isn’t a strange bedfellow for the average Chennaiite. However, even the most heat-hardened city veterans will not look forward to the time when the Kathiri Veyil (which will turn up the heat from next week) bears down on them. As temperatures begin to inch north of the 35 degree Celsius mark and break into the 40s, here are a few things that may end up saving you your sanity, your skin and an unnecessary trip to the hospital.
Tank Up on Fluid
Carrying a water bottle may seem uncool for the average working professional, but it can end up making the difference between you ending up dehydrated and parched or staying normal. “On an average people are asked to drink about two litres of water a day, but for the heat that we experience during summer it is essential to increase the quantity. It’s also about drinking it at regular intervals, besides every time the tongue feels parched, because that is a sure fire sign of dehydration,” said Dr R Sundararaman, Senior Consultant Physician and Diabetologist at SRM Institutes of Medical Sciences.
Be a Juicy Floozy
If you’re sick of drinking water every time you return from the heat, try alternating it with cold water of fresh juices. Not only will this be cooling for the body, it will also help you with your digestive process during the night. “There is a mild risk with drinking cold water fast when you return from extreme heat outside, but if you are within the age group of 6-65 years, then it should be all right. Children and elderly people should watch out with extreme cold water because it can cause trouble,” says Dr R Eashwaran, General Physician and Paediatrician. Though natural tender coconut water and watermelon juice are the top picks for kathiri, canned juice and bottled elaneer are still better than aerated colas, he added.
Eat Easy, Sit Pretty
Carbs aren’t cool. Especially during summer, the kind of carbs that you end up consuming eventually turn out to be with sugar, extreme spice and by rote, all things nice. Unfortunately, all of the aforementioned tend to crank up your body’s heat levels so much that it can lead to digestive distress. “What happens is that people who continue to eat heavy food will find that they sweat more and have acid reflux and issues like that, when the heat is higher. In case it gets extremely bad, then there is a possibility that it could end up affecting their other systems if they also have diabetes and hypertension,” says Dr K Baraneedharan, consultant physician and diabetologist at Global Health City.
Go Fab in the Indian Summer
Even if you’re headed for a metal concert, avoid black clothes like the plague. If you absolutely insist, try out linen or cotton variants like clima-lite shirts or combed cotton that absorb sweat better. “Wearing thin cotton shirts not only stops the body from sweating hard and losing fluids faster, it can really keep you comfortable till you’re able to get to a place where the heat can be controlled,” explains Dr Baraneedharan, who also suggests avoiding form-fitting clothes to breathe easy.
Embrace the AC zone
Doctors may despise air-conditioned spaces when there’s a particularly viral flu going around, but when the heat is as bad as it is, it’s up there on their charts. Whether you’re travelling, sleeping or at work try to keep your environment air-conditioned so that your body doesn’t get dehydrated even while indoors, “In places like Chennai, the humidity can be extremely harsh and that is why using air-conditioned spaces to your advantage is absolutely necessary. This can make the difference for a lot of people especially if they’re acclimatised to it,” says Dr Sundararaman.
Get Handheld Cover over Sunblock
Umbrellas may be Dickensian for today’s youngster, but they’re still a whole lot safer than sunscreen and sunblock. Dermatologist Navaneeth H explains how using sunblock every day often causes rashes and even exacerbated prickly heat in a lot of his patients.
“The other problem is that it blocks the synthesis of Vitamin D which can be risky if done for months on end. The easier way is to wear protective clothing or use pH free products that will allow some essential rays to get through. Bathing twice, where there’s water available, is also advisable because it will help your complexion bounce back,” he says.
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