Cheering for his team, Kolkata Knight Riders, in 45-degree heat, proved costly for Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who was admitted to a hospital in Ahmedabad following dehydration and a heat stroke. The actor was in Ahmedabad to watch the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad on Tuesday. No matter how fit you are, doctors say, prolonged heat exposure may adversely impact your body. “Dehydration and extreme heat can affect you adversely if you are over 50 and have co-morbidities like hypertension and diabetes,” says Dr M Wali, Senior Consultant, Department of Internal Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. WHAT HAPPENS DURING A HEAT STROKE? Due to the exposure to heat and profuse sweating, which drains the body of water, the core body temperature goes up. “The body goes into a fight and flight mode, its sympathetic nervous system gets activated, which means the body senses a crisis situation and releases stress hormones. With lesser water, the blood volume goes down, the blood thickens and there is greater stress on the heart and blood vessels to pump more blood to the peripheries so that the skin can radiate the heat quickly. During a heat stroke, the body can no longer control its temperature, the sweating mechanism and evaporation fail and the body is unable to cool down. When heat stroke occurs, the body temperature can rise to 104°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. That’s why one has to bring down the body temperature by administering saline drips, keeping the affected person in an air-conditioned environment and giving them cold compress with ice packs against the neck, under the arms, and in the groin area, where large blood vessels lie close to the skin surface. This will stabilise the body temperature,” he adds. WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION? WHY YOU MAY NOT FEEL IT AS YOU AGE? According to Dr Wali, watch out for urine output, which might reduce. “Urine may also have a dark colour. You may have a dry mouth, feel disoriented, have a headache, fever, breathlessness, a rapid heart rate and low blood pressure,” says Dr Wali. “As you age, your body doesn’t demand water like it used to in your younger years. So you may not feel thirsty enough though your body may still need fluids to function. So not drinking enough water puts you in danger of dehydration,” he adds. HOW CAN WE PREVENT DEHYDRATION? HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD YOU DRINK? People should drink at least four to six litres of water on a hot day to prevent dehydration. “Keep sipping water, fruit-infused water or bael juice (this one counteracts heat the best) on the hour. You need to drink fluids with electrolytes even if you do not feel thirsty so that you can replenish body salts lost through sweating. Carry a bottle with you always since you cannot avoid getting caught in a traffic jam. Remember chilled beer is dehydrating and triggers changes in the nervous system. Limit smoking and alcohol,” says Dr Wali. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHILE STEPPING OUT IN THE SUN? It is best to remain indoors during the hottest hours in the afternoon but if one has to step out, protect yourself against direct sunlight. “Wear light, loose-fitting, cotton clothes, carry a reflective white umbrella and switch your car AC off 10 minutes before you reach your destination,” says Dr Wali. “Keep the windows cracked when parking. Keep the doors or windows open for some time before starting to drive again to allow the car to cool down first,” he suggests.
