Keep yourself hydrated to beat the heat: docs

With the mercury soaring, weather-induced ailments are also on the rise. As the weather gets warmer, residents become more vulnerable to illness, said doctors in the city, while advising citizens to take precautions to avoid such a situation.

Among the common ailments that hit people during summer are viral infections, gastro-intestinal diseases, respiratory ailments and heat exhaustion. Doctors suggested that citizens avoid constant exposure to sun and ensure to keep themselves hydrated at all times through the day.

“In case of children, exposure to extreme temperatures when they alternate between the sun and air-conditioned rooms makes them fall ill. Parents should not allow children to play in sun for long hours and not give them cold water,” said Dr Subash Rao, consultant paediatrician and secretary of Navi Mumbai Association of Paediatrics.

Bad hygiene and eating out often is another practice that doctors warned against.

“There are many complaints from people about gastro-intestinal diseases which result from consumption of contaminated food and water,” said Dr Swati Bhushan, clinical nutitionist at Fortis Hospital, Vashi.

Bhushan added, “It is best to avoid outside food, juices, spicy and fatty foods and carbonated drinks. Instead one should increase the intake of fruits and fluids such as butter milk and coconut water.”