How to Surviving a Heat Wave; 9 Tips to Save Lives
Is behavior related to health?
Whether it is a small or big event that happens in daily life or an important event-experience associated with life, it leaves an impression on every body-mind. We have all experienced the passion of the scene in the picture. Experiences such as twisting the fingers or the legs in a certain position and feeling relieved after the scene is over or taking a deep breath indicate that the effects of the scenes in front of us, the thoughts that arise in the mind and the emotions that arise from it are limited to the mind. Not living, also happens on the body.
Do you know the symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke? Learn how to treat heat-related illness and how to protect yourself during summer.
Heat can be a killer if you don’t take precautions. Heat waves kill more people in the United States than all other natural disasters combined. The Center for Climatic Research says an average of 1,500 people die annually because of the heat.
What is a heat wave?
A heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, usually with high humidity, when compared to the area’s usual weather and normal temperatures for the season. It is also defined as a period of more than five consecutive days with the temperature at least 9 degrees F. higher than the average maximum temperature.
The “heat index” is what the temperature feels like to the human body when the humidity is high. It combines air temperature and relative humidity (moisture in the air).
When we get hot, our bodies cool down by sweating. As the sweat evaporates, the body’s temperature cools. However, on a humid day when the air is full of moisture, sweat cannot evaporate and the body stays hot. The opposite is true then humidity is low, or you’re in a dry climate, and the body’s ability to cool itself by sweating increases.
When is the heat index dangerous?
A heat advisory means a period of hot temperatures is expected and the heat index is likely to create a situation where heat-related illness is possible. The danger from heat is also higher when air pollution is high.
The usual progression of heat-related illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is:
Heat exhaustion causes heavy sweating, nausea or vomiting, fainting, a racing pulse and clammy skin. The person may also stagger, be confused or combative. Muscle cramps are often an early sign. To reverse it, stop activity, move to a cool location and apply wet cool washcloths to the body. Heat exhaustion requires immediate medical treatment and rapid cooling. If you cannot reverse it, it quickly advances to heat stroke.
Heat stroke occurs when the body’s core temperature is higher than 104 degrees (give or take a couple of degrees, depending on the individual’s heat tolerance). Sweating stops, pulse is rapid, and the skin is flushed and dry. The person becomes delirious and may faint. About 10 percent of heat stroke victims die. If they survive, they often have brain damage.
Heart attacks and strokes are more common when there’s a heat wave. The heart has to work harder and faster. Even a healthy person can die of heart attack or stroke if they try to do too much outside on a hot, humid day.
The National Weather Service offers this chart to help you decide if it’s safe to be outside. Remember, these temperatures are for shady locations. If you are in direct sunlight, the heat index can be 15 degrees hotter.
You may also go through experiences like getting bored, falling asleep, sometimes diarrhea-nausea, not feeling hungry during the preparation of difficult subjects in the exam. Physical effects such as sore throat, sweating while going to a meeting which is very important for job-business may have an effect on the body due to thoughts running in the mind, aggression, anxiety, eagerness.
Such psychosomatic effects are not unique to specific situations. Everyone, big or small, has a psychological effect on their physical, mental and social experiences. With this in mind, it is understandable that efforts alone are not enough to nourish, protect, or strengthen the body. Maintaining health requires maintaining awareness about every aspect physically, mentally and socially. From such a very subtle and far-sighted perspective, Ayurveda has discussed in great detail about the ‘good news’ for maintaining health. Psycho-physical and social well-being for health
The scenes seen in the picture affect the sensory mind through the eye and convey it to the body. In the same way, the body is affected by emotions like anxiety, worry, fear that run from a particular situation in the mind. Which we will call the mutual psychosomatic effect. But Ayurveda says to go beyond here and focus on social life, conduct.
Whether it is a daily routine of life or a special behavior like a student, a householder, a man or a woman, an employee. In view of each and every such aspect, a person should be free from rage, hatred, etc., in all such relationships with his elders, gurus, servants, animals, while maintaining serenity of mind and intellect, showing readiness in truthfulness. That is important for health. Asked to understand the serious reasons behind the seemingly very general suggestions.
Experience teaches us what is the result of expecting more than one's own strength. But how much does he understand from experience? And Ayurveda gives very detailed instructions to cultivate the wisdom to live life with such understanding.
The list of diseases such as heart disease caused by tension, stress, high blood pressure, emotional eating disorder, obesity, irritable bowel syndrome, white spots on the skin, eczema is very long. But despite knowing all this, what and how much can we do about it? Because the effect of conditioning on the mind and body to some extent cannot be completely denied. That is why yoga is limited to asanas only, even in meditation there are thoughts about how to stop the thought, how to just see the thoughts. The implication here is that stress is also for the effectiveness of stress relief measures! This is because of the fact that stress and body-mind disorders are the focus of attention. So the way darkness cannot be erased. Light is enough to remove darkness. Similarly, if one wants to get immunity-protection against stress or psycho-physical or social disorder, then by adopting the ‘good news’ suggested by Ayurveda in the context of today's modern age, the side effects on health can be prevented.
Everybody, big or small, has a psychological effect on their physical, mental and social experiences.
Experience achieved:
Chemical powder made from amla, Dhatriyasayan, Amalki Rasayan, Chyavanprashavaleh with proper guidance can be used with nature-friendly diet and vihar to help prevent possible diseases and aging problems.
How do heat waves kill so quickly?
When the body cannot cool itself by sweating or the person cannot get a break –even for a few hours of air conditioning – the body’s systems break down. Called hyperthermia, it’s the opposite of hypothermia that can happen during winter. Hyperthermia means the body’s temperature is dangerously high. It is caused by failure of the body’s heat-regulating process.
Hyperthermia causes the body to try to cool the blood by dilating blood vessels in the skin and constricting blood vessels in the stomach. Less blood to the gut lets toxins leak into the blood. Cells begin to die, triggering a massive inflammatory response that damages the body’s tissues, organs and the kidneys start to fail. Proteins in the spleen start to clump and essentially “cook.” Toxins also enter the brain causing strokes and swelling.
This process can happen very quickly; the person may not be aware of the danger. The majority of heat wave deaths occur in older persons and the mentally ill. Older people have more trouble regulating their temperature, and they are less likely to know they are too hot. Additionally, some medicines commonly used by older people can make temperature regulation worse. A third factor is they tend to be more socially isolated than younger people. Social isolation is the greatest risk factor for dying during a heat wave.
Heat survival tips
Be sure you and your family follow these nine safety tips this summer:
- Start prevention early and stay hydrated by drinking half a gallon of water per day if you are indoors. Add to this, 34 to 68 additional ounces of water for every hour of outdoor time, depending on how active you are. Drink before you feel thirsty. If you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated.
- Avoid alcoholic or caffeine drinks because they can cause the body to lose more fluids through urine.
- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing, made of natural fabric or special fabrics designed to wick-away sweat.
- Use a sun hat or umbrella outdoors.
- Eat smaller, more frequent meals.
- Stay indoors as much as possible. If you do not have air conditioning, try to go to a place that is air conditioned for part of the day – library, shopping mall, movie theatre or museum, or visit friends who have air conditioning. The most crucial hours are generally from 1 to 6 p.m.
- Avoid strenuous activity, especially during the hottest part of the day. If you must be outside, take regular breaks.
- Check daily or twice daily during a heat wave on older people, sick or obese people and people who are socially isolated. If you are unable to contact them, go to their location or call 911 with their address. People with heart, lung or kidney disease; ill with a fever; or have high blood pressure, a chronic condition or poor circulation are especially vulnerable during a heat wave. Taking medications such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers, and some heart and blood pressure drugs can also make a person more vulnerable to heat illness. The third day of a heat wave is critical for the human body. Those who have endured extreme heat often can no longer cope after the third day, especially if temperatures remain high at night.
- If you suspect someone is suffering from a heat-related problem:
- Get him out of the heat and into a shady area or air-conditioning.
- Urge him to lie down and loosen clothing so you can apply cool, wet washcloths directly to bare skin. For quickest blood cooling, apply to the neck, wrists, armpits and groin areas.
- Help him to bathe or sponge off with cool water.
- If he is conscious and can swallow safely, offer cool water, fruit or vegetable juices. No alcohol or caffeine.
- If at any time he becomes unresponsive, confused or combative, or has trouble breathing, call 911 immediately. This is a medical emergency!
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