Medical Professionals from Loyola give Advisory Prescriptions Relating to Pollution and Heat
A large majority of individuals residing in this nation are feeling the effects of a very hot summer. Medical professionals from the Gottlieb Memorial Hospital (a part of the Loyola Universities Health Division) cautioned locals that they should take additional precaution and be especially wary to protect and maintain their health and wellbeing during this period.
Many warnings concerning the extreme heat were given in Chicago on Friday the 22nd of July, the temperature readings had peaks ranging between 110 and115 degrees Celsius. Today, Wednesday the twentieth of July was declared as an air pollution action day by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, this was done in direct response to the high levels of pollution.
The Medical Doctor specialising in internal medicine and nutrition at the Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, Jessica Bartfield says that individuals with chronic conditions including the aged and extremely young are the ones with the highest risk of being adversely affected by high temperatures. Dr Bartfield went on to say that nonetheless with temperatures and heat rising in excess of eighty degrees Celsius, ninety degrees and even higher, the health and wellbeing of all individuals is most likely at risk.
Be Sure To Drink Adequate Amounts of Water
Furthermore, Dr Jessica Bartfield also said that it is highly advisable for people to strive to remain highly hydrated by drinking adequate amounts of water. She went on to say that drinks or beverages containing caffeine or alcohol should be avoided because these will lead to dehydration. The doctor went on to say that vegetables and fresh fruits are a good way of keeping hydrated and getting essential nutrients and vitamins in the body.
Additionally Dr Jessica Bartfield also states that the symptoms of dehydration are things such as the tenting of skin, she advised individuals to pinch the skin on their arms gently, if this skin contracts slowly or forms a ridge then there is a high chance that the individual is dehydrated. She went on to say that people should not wait until they feel thirsty; especially if they regularly perform physical exercise they should ensure that they consume adequate amounts of water. The doctor also says that those who are old cannot easily discern the times when they are thirsty and thus have a higher likelihood of getting dehydrated.
Dr Bartfield went on to say that high temperatures result in heat cramps (painful muscle spasms), she says when people take in large quantities of water but do not replace the salt that they lose via perspiration, their muscles will cramp up. The doctor advises people to drink beverages containing electrolytes but in the event that the muscle cramps do not stop, the individual should then get medical help.
Cooling Off
Those who are elderly and have chronic conditions have been warned by the allergist Doctor Joseph Leija that they may find that they experience allergic reactions leading to difficulties in breathing during periods of high humidity and heat. He advised such individuals to remain within air conditioned places and to consult their physicians concerning the alteration of their allergy medication to take into account the very hot temperatures. In conclusion Dr Leija says people should keep cool by wearing loose fitting clothing.