It's just the beginning. The weather bureau warns that the mercury will rise further in the days to come; doctors are already seeing patients with summer diseases
It's just the beginning. The weather bureau warns that the mercury will rise further in the days to come; doctors are already seeing patients with summer diseases
There's no respite from the sweltering heat. With temperature in the city hovering at 37u00b0C in the first two days
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of March, the weather bureau believes the temperatures will only increase in the days to come. "The temperatures are expected to rise because of high humidity due to cloudy conditions," said K Satidevi, director, Mumbai Meteorol-ogical Station. The heat is likely to take a toll on the health of citizens.
Heat strokes and dehydration are bound to hit the city harder with the rise in mercury. "If one has been having two litres of water every day, it is recommended that they up the intake by a litre or two. They can also alternate glasses of water with salted lemonade to keep their body sugar levels up," said Dr Anil Suchak, president Indian Medical Association.
There's also the possibility of contracting fungal skin infections. "Germs thrive in moist, warm places, including your skin. There are many medicated powders that you can use to keep dry and fungus free," added Suchak.
u00a0Doctors suggest that parents should be careful for their children's sake. "If the children are out in the sun, they need constant hydration to ensure that they don't exhaust themselves. For younger children, playtime should be restricted to an hour in open spaces," said Khushrav Bhajan, head of general medicine at P D Hinduja Hospital.
u00a0The increasing heat has also led to a greater number of mosquitoes than is generally seen at this time of the year. "No one is safe, not even residents in high-rises. We have many cases of malaria and mosquito-related diseases coming in. It's important to make your house mosquito-proof, but to ensure that your surroundings aren't breeding grounds for larvae too," added Bhajan.
Temperature check
Colaba
Minimum: 21.9u00baC
Maximum: 35u00baC
Santacruz
Minimum: 21.3u00baC
Maximum: 36.7u00baC
The temperature yesterday was about 5u00baC higher than what is normal for this time of the year
Ways to combat
1 Drink plenty of water
2 Consume less caffeine and alcohol
3 Eat more salads and seasonal fruits
4 Avoid non-vegetarian food items
5 Splash your face more often with cold water
6 Exercise early in the morning or late in the evening
7 Meditate
8 Cover your head while out in the sun. Use umbrellas, hats, scarves or any headgear
9 Wear loose clothing
10 Use natural, not synthetic fabrics
11 Use a good sun block that would protect you from the harsh UV rays
12 Avoid excess jewellery
13 Stay indoors if possible when the sun is at its peak
14 Avoid excessive u00a0u00a0make-up
15 Use face packs that contain natural products such as oatmeal, honey, fruits and milk
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