Heat-stress cases flood doctors in Chennai

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With the mercury inching towards the 40-degree mark, city doctors are receiving cases of heat stress, especially in patients with heart disease and long-term diabetes. Even as the summer is known to spike up the incidence of heart attacks, doctors warn dehydration could be life-threatening to patients with heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.

“While there is no direct link between temperature and the functioning of the heart, most heart patients take drugs that cause vasodilation(widening of blood vessels). This will add to the vaso-dilation caused due to the heat and affect the blood pressure,” explains senior cardiologist Dr S Thanikatchalam, pointing out that receiving elderly patients with dizziness and even young patients complaining of extreme exhaustion and restlessness, is common in the summer.

Patients with congestive heart failure are asked to restrict fluid intake, and summer season tends to be very difficult for them. Their bodies tend to get heated up very quickly as the skin fails to dissipate heat through sweating and this could be a dangerous situation, he warns.

Diabetics on the other hand get easily dehydrated, especially those dependant on insulin. “Dehydration in diabetics can cause ketosis and even heart problems when the blood gets thickened due to loss of water from the body,” says diabetologists Dr V Mohan, warning diabetics to drink plenty of water and buttermilk.

Tips to keep summer ailments at bay

• Eat as many fibrous fruits as possible
• A handful of nuts are good for the heart
• Avoid deep fried foods, instead binge on oats and ragi. Eat greens, raw vegetable salad and sundal

Five new cases of H1N1

Five cases of H1N1 influenza were reported on Monday, taking the total number of infected persons in TN to 113.

Four people including three women have succumbed to the infection since April. On Monday, a temple priest of Tiruvottriyur tested positive and was admitted to the Government GH in Chennai.

The patient, Ranganathan, a priest at a temple in Manali was referred to the Communicable Diseases Hospital in Tondiarpet a few days ago, with symptoms of cold and fever. He has been quarantined at the GH. Chennai reported 57 cases and Kovai 19.

“During summer, diabetics suffer from various skin problems—fungal diseases, dry skin and boils that get easily infected. Urinary infection is also common,” he points out. However, the problem with urging diabetics to consume fluids is escalated when they binge on fruit juices, colas and even tender coconut, which contains glucose. “Buttermilk and water are the only liquids a diabetic should be drinking. Diabetics should abstain from eating mangoes,” warns Dr Mohan.