Summer is here and the families are generally enjoying the vacations by travelling, having get together, attending family occasions and weddings. Children are sent off to summer camps to learn new hobbies, make friends and generally have fun before the school grind begins in June.
During summers because of the extreme heat and occasional humidity adults and children alike suffer from and are prone to certain ailments.
Headaches, high temperatures, diarrheas, vomitings, giddiness, nausea, dry coughs, persistent watery discharges from the noses, cramps etc. are some ailments that occur after being exposed to the heat of the sun or after overeating oily, spicy foods, cold foods and drinks at social functions, or being dehydrated when there is a lot of travelling involved with poor or low intake of water and fluids.
Children and infants are more prone to summer ailments as they can easily get dehydrated because of excessive vomiting and if they have loose motions.
Certain precautions need to be taken to prevent summer ailments.They are
• Always see that you are well covered before you go out in the hot sun. Use umbrellas, hats and caps to protect your head from direct exposure to the hot sun.
• Use sun screen lotions to prevent sunburn and dryness of the exposed parts of your skin. Use chapsticks and lip balms to prevent dryness of the lips.
• Always carry water and keep sipping water to prevent dehydration caused by excessive sweating.
• Avoid eating spicy, greasy, heavy foods. Have plenty of yoghurt, buttermilk at the end of each meal.

• Drink plenty of buttermilk, coconut water, water, juices to replenish the body fluids lost by sweating. Do not drink cold drinks right after you enter the house after being in the sun, wait for a few minutes to let the body adjust to the cooler interior temperature and then slowly sip the cool drink.
• Do not go out directly into the sun from an airconditioned or cool interior. Step out into a cool, shady place outside, wait for a few minutes and then start walking in the sun.
• Have plenty of water loaded fruits like watermelon, musk melons, and papayas, they not only give you low calories but provide fluids and nutrients. Have other fruits like Kiwis, oranges, bananas regularly.
• Avoid eating out at eateries that are unhygienic and those that use “suspect” cooking materials and allow patrons to use dirty cutlery.