During the Summer season it is important to take care of our overall health. The scorching heat makes our body go through several complications which unknowingly damages our internal organs, skin and eyes. To prevent serious medical complications, one must focus on adopting certain precautionary measure that will help one to stay fit and healthy. So, from following an appropriate diet schedule to nourishing and protecting our skin and eyes during this period is important.
DIETARY NEEDS:
Dr Payel Kumar Roy, Chief Dietician & Critical Care Nutritionist, Techno India DAMA Hospital & Healthcare Medical Centre throws light on few but very crucial suggestions for a Summer Special Healthy Diet Chart.
One needs to consume light and easy foods as their daily diet. Such foods and drinks protect against dehydration and help in maintaining the optimal levels of energy.
a. Eat a lot of fresh fruits, salads and lightly spiced foods as the fruits and veggies are easy to digest. They bear high water content and help in hydration.
b. Avoid fried and junk foods as they take time to digest and require a lot of water. Spicy foods can also increase body heat.
c. Summers can be incredibly exhausting and can leave one feeling drained out. Nothing is better than refreshing oneself with quick and tasty drinks. Fruit juices like
i. Wonder watermelon
ii. Lemon punch
iii. Cool cucumber and
iv. Masala Jeera
All these may vary in nutritional value but most of them have a variety of health benefits. They contain various antioxidants which help to reduce the risk of certain health issues and vitamins that help the body to function well.
Apart from this, below are steps which can be undertaken as the safety measures for maintaining the glow of our Skin during Summer.
a. Clean your face with cold water but not constantly. After washing, rub ice on the face.
b. Apply the sunscreen lotion whenever you are about to get exposed in the scorching heat. This will help in avoiding dark shades on the skin and will also prevent developing allergies from the sweat and heat.
c. Must include more Vitamin C and Calcium in the diet.
d. Include more water or fluid to keep the body well hydrated.
e. Light oils such as jojoba oil, lavender oil, Rosehip oil and grape seed oil can be used since these oils do not have a heavy consistency. They do not clog pores, instead, they hydrate your skin.
SKINCARE:
Dr Surajit Gorai, MD, Dermatologist, Cosmetologist and Trichologist advises with some essential Skin Care guidelines which can be followed during Summer.
Now in Kolkata it is not only hot but less humid as compared to the previous years. The rate of humidity is merely 50%. As a result there’s a huge impact on our skin tone. Gradually, we are facing the trouble of Dry Skin. To cope with this issue, it is necessary that we make use of a good moisturizer till the Summer season prevails. Even though an individual has a skin which is normal or even oily then on a regular basis, once in a day apply Non Comedogenic Moisturizer.
Apart from this, we need to clean our face twice even when we are at work. It is advised to make use of Soft Cleansers for the people who have Dry Skin. It is necessary to consume 2-4 liters of water every day. Take a shower twice if you are exposed to outdoor activities for a prolonged period.
Make a habit of using Sunglasses and other types of Sun protection methods like –
1. Physical sun protection which includes umbrella, sun visor within the car and protective clothing to cover the exposed body parts
2. Use of sunscreen every 3-4 hours
3. Use cold water to clean your face
4. For the dry skin use individuals apply moisturizer first and then use the sunscreen
5. Let your skin breathe by avoiding the use of heavy makeup.
6. A lip balm with spf.
7. The skin around the eyes is delicate so wear sunglasses whenever you will be going out in the sun.
EYECARE:
Dr. Debanjan Sen, Consultant Ophthalmologist – Cataract, Medical Retina & ROP of Disha Eye Hospitals – Kolkata shares his valuable suggestion regarding the common eye problems which an individual goes through in Summer and the remedies related to this.
The heated summers are here and so are the common problems relating to the eye. Added to this is the Corona menace. During the summer season most of the people are affected with dehydration, heat stroke and skin darkening. Common eye problems that one faces when the temperatures rise are allergies, conjunctivitis and stye. Protection and proper eye hygiene can help one keep away from summer eye problems.
Thus, it is important to follow these simple steps to safeguard your eye’s health during this season.
1. Eye Allergy
People who suffer from allergic diseases like asthma, eczema, etc are more prone to eye allergy. Common allergens that cause eye allergy are diesel exhaust, cigarette smoke, and perfumes. Allergens cause our eye to release histamine that in turn makes your eye swell, become watery, and turn red.
Symptom – The symptoms of eye allergies are usually seasonal when allergens are floating around and could include the following:
· Swollen eyes
· Red eyes
· Puffy eyes, more so in the morning
· Itchy eyes or a burning sensation
· Eyes watering excessively
· Stringy eye discharge
· Vessels in the clear tissue covering the white portion of the eye could be dilated
Treatment
· The simplest home remedy is to rinse your eyes repeatedly with cold water, and then to wipe it gently with a soft tissue.
· Rose water is another natural remedy that has been used through the ages. Use 3 to 4 drops of rose water in both your eyes. Shut your eyes for around 5 minutes so that its full effects can take place.
· If home remedies do not work, your doctor can help you by prescribing suitable medication that will help you cure the infection.
2. Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is a common and uncomfortable eye condition that can be caused by infections or irritants. The conjunctiva is thin clear tissue covering the front of the eye. One or both eyes may be affected, and the condition can spread from one to the other.
Symptoms
Symptoms of conjunctivitis may be different depending on what’s caused it, but often includes:
· Red eyes.
· Sticky discharge.
· Conjunctivitis from an infection may also cause:
· A burning feeling in the eyes.
· A gritty feeling in the eyes.
· Eyelashes having a sticky coating first thing in the morning.
· Enlarged ear lymph node (lymph gland).
Treatment
· Pink eye treatment is usually focused on symptom relief. Eye drops, cleaning eyelids with a wet cloth, and applying cold or warm compresses several times daily. Ask your doctor if you’re not sure of which eye drop to use.
· If you wear contact lenses, you’ll be advised to stop wearing them until treatment is complete.
· Disinfect hard lenses overnight before you reuse them.
· Since conjunctivitis is usually viral, antibiotics won’t help, and may even cause harm by reducing their effectiveness in the future or causing a medication reaction.
3. Stye
A stye or hordeolum is a small, painful lump on the inside or outside of the eyelid. It is actually an abscess filled with pus and is usually caused by a staphylococcus bacteria eye infection.
Symptoms
- A lump on the top or bottom eyelid
- Localized swelling of the eyelid
- Pain
- Redness
- Tenderness to touch
- Crusting of the eyelid margins
- Burning in the eye
- Droopiness of the eyelid
- Scratchy sensation on the eyeball
- Blurred vision
- Mucous discharge in the eye
Treatment
· The best home treatment to get rid of a stye is to apply a warm water compress as often as possible. It is important to remember that a stye may take months to resolve completely.
· An ophthalmologist can inject a steroid into the lesion, often resulting in a speedier resolution.
· If a stye appears infected, oral antibiotics may be necessary.
· Do not wear contact lenses until the sty resolves.
New Delhi, India – May 2023
