SUN? Too much
The top side effects of too much sun sound strange until you understand the biology behind them and how the body is trying to protect itself. Thando Pato chats to the experts
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onsider these as signs that you have spent too much time in direct sun or that your body is not coping with the heat, says dermatologist Dr Matete Mathobela.
SWOLLEN HANDS AND FEET What is it? Heat oedema Symptoms The sudden swelling of the hands and discomfort associated with this are caused by your veins expanding in the body’s effort to keep itself cool. However, what happens at the same time with heat oedema is that the blood vessels are struggling to pump blood back to the heart, so additional fluids produced by the body are pulled to the limbs, resulting in the swelling. PAINFUL MUSCLE SPASMS What is it? Heat cramps Symptoms Muscles intermittently spasm or jerk involuntarily. This is a result of a loss of fluids and most importantly sodium, which can be diminished through excessive sweating. Heat cramps mostly affect the abdomen, back, arms or legs. FEELING UNSTEADY OR FAINT What is it? Heat syncope Symptoms Sudden dizziness, feeling faint and sometimes fainting experienced after standing for too long or standing up too fast from a sitting position. What happens is that heat causes the blood vessels to dilate, so body fluid moves to the legs, which causes low blood pressure and the associated unsteady feeling. EXCESSIVE THIRST, DIZZINESS, NAUSEA AND VOMITING What is it? Heat exhaustion Symptoms The sudden onset of heat cramps, heat oedema, nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, extreme weakness, irritability and possibly fainting are signs of heat exhaustion. These symptoms are likely to occur when your body is overheated, dehydrated and lacking in electrolytes.
AVOIDING
summer food poisoning
Dietician Ashleigh Caradas says the key to avoiding food poisoning this summer is ensuring that you have good bacterial flora. “With good bacterial flora, you are less likely to get sick from contaminated foods because your body will be able to fight the poisons off,” she says. To ensure you have a healthy gut, she advises taking probiotics and sticking to a high-fibre, low-sugar diet. “It’s not foolproof, but the better your system is, the lower your chances of food poisoning.” But while probiotics (which you can get over the counter) offer some protection, here is a list of things Caradas recommends you should probably avoid if you are buying street food or joining friends for a picnic: • Undercooked chicken. Poultry (eggs included) has all sorts of bacteria, from E. coli to salmonella, that can be dangerous to humans. Ensure that any chicken you have not prepared yourself is cooked thoroughly. • Salads. Raw vegetables are not a significant source of contamination, but the risk lies in the water they were washed in during preparation. • Skinned fruit. Avoid buying fruit peeled by someone else like watermelon or pineapple, as it is susceptible to contamination. • Sushi. Avoid travelling long distances with freshly prepared sushi or buying some that has been sitting on the shelf for most of the day. Sushi needs to be refrigerated and is best eaten at cool temperatures.
“With good bacterial flora, you are less likely to get sick from contaminated foods because your body will be able to fight the poisons off.” – Ashleigh Caradas
4 l HEALTHY TIMES
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