The Doctor Is In

Ishi Kosla, clinical nutritionist says:

If you are out in heat, carry fluids with electrolytes—this could be just lemon juice with a pinch of salt and sugar. The key is to consume enough sugar. People with low blood pressure have a tendency to get heat exhaustion very easily, so your BP checked. Consume a lot of water, avoid heating foods like non-veg and spicy food. Avoid tea and coffee as they are diuretics. Eat large quantities of melons and watermelons. Vegetable juices are a good idea too.

• I am 30-yr-old woman. Walking makes my feet swell. My legs ache and the calf muscles become stiff. I can’t even stand for long. I have trouble sitting on chair for long and prefer to sit cross legged. My mother also has similar problems. Is this something hereditary?

— Priyanka, Pune

Dr Anoop Misra, Head of Diabetes and Metabolism at Fortis Hospital, Delhi, says:

You should go for a kidney, liver and protein level check-up. The problem could also be something innoucous like insufficiency of veins in legs. This is a minor problem and can be reduced by keeping the legs a little elevated while sleeping, reducing salt intake and using compression bandages if it increases. If you are overweight, try reducing weight too.