Heart Patients Beware of Summer   Sunday 17th May 2009: There us a change of weather both in the politics and the summer weather. With the increase in the relative humidity more and more cases of heat disorders have started in the city. The heat index (HI) is the term used for an index that combines air temperature and relative humidity in an attempt to determine the human-perceived equivalent temperature — how hot it feels, termed the felt temperature. The human body normally cools itself by sweating, which evaporates and carries heat away from the body. However, when the relative humidity is high, the evaporation rate is reduced, so heat is removed from the body at a lower rate causing it to retain more heat than it would in dry air. Dehydration can precipitate heart attack in susceptible individuals. The normal fluid requirement is 30 ml per kg weight, but the same needs to be increased in the summer because of the loss of fluid from sweating. Apart from water, the loss is also of Sodium (Na) or salt. A person, therefore, needs to take more fruit intake during summer period. Not passing urine in eight hours, dry armpits; feeling exhausted or feeling week are thw warning signals said Dr KK Aggarwal President Heart Care Foundation of India and Director IMAAKN Sinha Institute. Dehydration can make the blood thick and precipitate heart attack in patients with uncontrolled Blood Pressure or Diabetes. Walking is a necessity for heart patients and the same should be continued even during peak summer but the timing should be so chosen that peak heat periods are avoided. One can walk early in the morning or late in the evening. People taking anti-allergic pills should take special precautions as they are more likely to get heat stroke. Heat stroke is a medical emergency leading to charring of organs because of extreme internal heat. A persons temperature may be more than 105oF. Preventing Summer Disorders Most common summer disorders are dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke on one hand and acidity, infections, diarrhea, cholera, Typhoid and Jaundice on the other hand. Heat cramps, exhaustion and stroke all result from  prolonged exposure to heat but differ in the severity of the illness.  Heat cramp is a milder form of illness where a person ends up with weakness, dehydration, and salt deficiency. The treatment, is replacing fluid and salt orally.  Heat exhaustion on the other hand is a relatively serious condition with fever, dehydration, weakness but presence of sweating. If not diagnosed and treated in time with rapid fluid replacement heat exhaustion can end-up into heat stroke where the body s thermoregulatory mechanisms gets failed leading to a sudden rise in internal temperature and charring of organs and ultimate death. Heat stroke, therefore, is a medical emergency and requires bringing   down of temperature within minutes. Absence of sweating, dry armpit, non-passing of urine for eight hours or presence of high grade fever in summer season should not be ignored and medical attention taken immediately. Diarrhea, Cholera, Typhoid and Jaundice are all food and water born diseases due to poor hygiene and shortage of water supply in the community. All of them can become serious if not attended in time. Of them diarrhea and cholera are the infections of small intestine and require replacing with lemon water mixed with sugar and salt. The deficiency of fluid may be up to 6 to 8 ltrs. A person needs to be admitted only if the loose motions are more than 12. For prevention of these diseases, one needs to follow the principle – Heat it, Boil it, Cook it, Peal it or Forget it.