Cool Down The Summer

School's out, pools are open and people across the country are looking for fun ways to cool down as summer temperatures heat up. Protect yourself from the sun with a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.

Summer means fun in the sun! But be safe - don't let a heat-related illness ruin your day. All that abundant sunshine in the summer can cause dry skin and hair, eye damage, and other ailments. To prevent sunburn it is advised to stay out of the sun from 10 am to around 3 to 6 pm. Apply neem oil (cooked/diluted in sesame oil) to the skin as a natural sunblock.

Cotton takes perspiration away from the skin leaving you drier and more comfortable. Select light-coloured cotton clothes, nightwear and bedding. Cotton sheets not only absorb sweat, but also permit your skin to breathe, making you more comfortable and less restless. Better sleep means more energy and better mobility.

Look for a balance between active and quiet times throughout the daily schedule. Balance work with leisure -- plan your vacation for the summer, enjoy fun activities on weekends and take time to enjoy life. When working, give yourself enough time to meet deadlines and learn to say no if you feel your schedule is becoming stretched.

It's a natural trend to eat lighter during the summer, and you can easily do so without feeling deprived. Always drink plenty of water and take frequent breaks when working or playing in the hot weather. Avoid spicy, oily dishes and fried foods. Excessive amounts of chili, pepper and garam masala are irritating to the digestive system. Instead, season foods with small amounts of jeera, fresh coriander and mint as these are milder and also act as digestives.

Your diet should include plenty of fresh juicy seasonal fruits such as oranges, sweet limes, strawberries, grapes, guavas, watermelons, blackberry, banana, papaya, etc. Sprouts, salads, raita, curd rice, sandwiches, etc, along with the fruits, provide all the nutrients needed by the body Particularly Vitamin C and the B-complex vitamins that help build resistance against the colds and fever that are very common during this season. Mangoes and jackfruit, available in plenty during the summer, are rich sources of b-carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A and stored by the body in the liver. Curd is a great summer food as it is cooling, contains proteins in the predigested form and is richer in B-complex vitamins as compared to milk.

Even short periods of high temperatures can cause health problems. Some common problems are described below:

Heat Stroke: It occurs when the body is unable to regulate its temperature. The body's temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. Body temperature may rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided.

Warning signs of heat stroke vary but may include an extremely high body temperature (above 103°F, orally), red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating), rapid, strong pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness and nausea followed by unconsciousness.

If you see any of these signs, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Get the victim to a shady area. Immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously. Get medical assistance as soon as possible.

Sometimes a victim's muscles will begin to twitch uncontrollably as a result of heat stroke. If this happens, keep the victim from injuring himself, but do not place any object in the mouth and do not give fluids. If there is vomiting, make sure the airway remains open by turning the victim on his or her side

Sunburn : Sunburn should be avoided because it damages the skin. Although the discomfort is usually minor and healing often occurs in about a week, a more severe sunburn may require medical attention. Symptoms of sunburn are well known: skin becomes red, painful, and abnormally warm after sun exposure.

Avoid repeated sun exposure. Apply cold compresses or immerse the sunburned area in cool water. Apply moisturizing lotion to affected areas. Do not use salve, butter, or ointment. Do not break blisters. If one develops sunburn, aloe vera gel can be applied to the skin to soothe sunburn. An alternative method is to apply crushed lettuce pulp to the sunburn. Coconut oil may also be applied to soothe the skin while indoors.

Be extra cautious in the sun/heat if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other medical conditions. Also be extra careful if you are taking any medications. For instance, certain medications (like some antibiotics, NSAIDS (such as ibuprofen and aspirin), and some oral contraceptives), may make you sunburn more easily, so be sure to protect yourself and stay out of the sun as much as possible.

Prickly heat: These long languorous days of humid and hot weather resulting in excessive sweating are a sheer torture for some of us, especially if our skin has a tendency to break into prickly heat rashes. Those red rashes can affect almost any part of the body. Itching and burning sensation that follow can cause a lot of discomfort.

Prickly heat is caused by bacteria or dead skin cells blocking sweat glands. The rash particularly affects areas where sweat is trapped and cannot evaporate, such as the feet for instance. People who often have prickly heat also tend to be susceptible to heat stroke. The following home-remedies and tips may provide relief from prickly heat.

Bathe twice a day if you feel too sweaty and unclean. Wear cotton clothes; avoid synthetic clothes and such garments which do not absorb sweat. Sprinkle prickly heat powder all over the affected parts of your body after a bath. You could even use sandalwood-powder for this purpose. Eat grapes or consume plenty of grape juice everyday. One can also feel good by drinking cool frothy butter-milk, coconut water and pineapple juice.

A cold infusion of coriander seeds twice a day also works wonders. Make a paste of sandalwood powder with rose water and apply to affected parts. Combine cumin seeds powder with coconut oil to obtain a thick consistency. Apply an hour before a bath.