Beat the heat with Homoeopathy
With April – May nearing and the mercury rising, all of us are surely feeling the heat . But besides just feeling the heat there are a number of ailments one can suffer from during summer
Let us see what these ailments are and how to beat them.
Why is the sun harmful?
Hot and humid environment slows down the evaporation of sweat. While atmospheric temperature continues to rise, our body cannot cool down fast enough. There is a state of elevated core temperature or Hyperthermia. This can lead to Heat Exhaustion and in severe cases (core temperature > 40 degree Celsius) Heat Stroke.
Extracellular sodium depletion following electrolyte loss as a result of persistent sweating with replacement of water but not salt can lead to painful cramps called as Heat Cramps.
Dehydration can occur if fluid loss due to perspiration is not compensated.
Skin problems are the commonest ranging from simple sun tan to skin cancer due to harmful effect of Ultra Violet rays of the sun. As Patricia Farris, a famous dermatologist has rightly said – “Your skin remembers every bit of sun it ever had!”
Bad effect of sun heat leads to:
Heat Exhaustion- Elevated core temperature associated with hyperventilation and symptoms of tiredness, fatigue, muscular weakness, dizziness and collapse.
Heat Stroke – Life threatening condition when core temperature of body is > 40 degree Celsius .Symptoms of heat exhaustion occur in addition to headache, nausea, vomiting.
Coarse muscle tremor and confusion which may
progress to loss of consciousness may be seen as a neurological manifestation.
Heat Cramps – Painful muscle cramps occur most commonly in the legs of young people following vigorous exercise in hot weather.
Heat Rash – Skin redness, dryness, irritation from excess sweating.
Prickly Heat / Miliaria Rubra – Papular itching eruption of the skin due to blockage of sweat ducts.
Cataract – Long term UV exposure increases formation of free radicals which injures the lens and can cause its opacity.
Photoaging – More the exposure to sun, more are the signs of aging like dry rough skin, sallow complexion, etc .
Sun Burn – Erythema caused by exposure to critical amounts of UV light.
Sun Tan – Brownish discolouration of skin from exposure to sun.
Freckles – Asymptomatic small circular brownish macules appearing on face, forearms, and other sun exposed areas of the body.
Solar Purpura – Easy bruising, bleeding into the skin with bleeding from mucus membranes.
Skin Cancer – Main risk factor for most forms of skin cancer is exposure to UV radiation in absence of adequate melanin pigment.
Heat Tetany – Hyperventilation on exposure to heat leading to respiratory alkalosis manifesting as tetany.
Solar Keratosis – Actinic keratitis (inflammation of cornea)
· Heat syncope / fainting
· Conjunctivitis
· Dyspepsia
· Vertigo
· Epistaxis from nose particularly
· Excessive offensive or staining perspiration
· Headache
With homoeopathy as our weapon we can surely beat the heat!
Article By: Dr. Harsha Joshi