Many states of North India including Delhi NCR are in the grip of cold wave due to snowfall in the mountains. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there will be no relief in the next week either.
In such a situation one needs to be very careful to avoid it. A little carelessness can cause serious illnesses. In some cases, frostbite can even be fatal.
So come, today In work news We will talk about what to do to avoid cold wave? You will also know that-
- For what kind of people is cold wave more dangerous?
- What precautions should be taken during cold wave?
Expert: Dr. Satyendra Kumar Sonkar, Department of Internal Medicine, King George Medical University, Lucknow
Q- What is a cold wave? Answer- According to the Indian Meteorological Department, when the minimum temperature in the plains is 4 degrees Celsius or less, it is called a cold wave. Apart from this, if the temperature is less than 10 degrees Celsius and it suddenly drops to -4.5 to -6.4 degrees, it is also considered as a cold wave. Cold waves usually occur in the months of December and January.
Q- In which states of the country the risk of cold wave is high? Answer- Cold wave outbreak is usually observed in Delhi NCR including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand. Apart from this, the effect of cold is also being seen in the hilly states like Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Q- How dangerous is cold wave for our body? Answer- Dr. Satyendra Kumar Sonkar says, cold waves affect our health in many ways. It affects our heart as well as neurological health. Understand how cold waves affect our health from the graphic below.
Question- Why does the risk of heart attack or stroke increase in cold wave? Answer: In the cold, the heart has to work twice as hard to pump oxygen throughout the body because the cold causes the arteries to constrict. Due to this, the blood flow slows down and the heart muscles get less oxygen. So the risk of stroke or heart attack increases.
Question- Why does the risk of hypothermia increase during a cold wave? Answer- A normal healthy person's body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celsius. Staying in cold for a long time causes the body temperature to drop. Hypothermia can occur when our body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit or 35 degrees Celsius.
Its early symptoms include severe tremors, numbness in the hands and feet, and chills. If not treated in time, the victim may go into a coma or even die.
Question- What are the symptoms when a person is affected by cold wave?
Answer- Cold wave symptoms include numbness in the fingers, toes, earlobes and nose. It has some other features as well. Understand it with following pointers-
- Body cooling
- Body trembles and teeth chatter
- Numbness of hands and feet
- Nausea or vomiting
Question: For whom is cold wave more dangerous?
Answer- A cold snap can take anyone by storm. However, some people are at higher risk. such as-
- Children are more at risk of cold wave. Due to which they may suffer from diseases like cold, cough, pneumonia and diarrhoea.
- Patients suffering from any serious illness and homeless people are also at increased risk of cold wave.
- Staying in a cold place for a long time increases the risk of problems caused by a cold wave.
- Due to a weakened immune system, the risk is higher in the elderly.
Question- What precautions should be taken to avoid cold wave? Answer- Dr. Satyendra Kumar Sonkar states that the body begins to cool as soon as it is exposed to a cold wave. Body temperature should not be less than 35 degrees Celsius. Anything less can cause serious health problems. So, some things should be taken special care during cold wave. Understand this in the following graphic-
Q- What mistakes should not be made during a cold wave?
Answer: Stay indoors as much as possible to avoid the cold wave. Apart from this, keep some things in mind. such as-
- Do not expose hands, feet and head
- Wear socks on hands and feet.
- Don't let the body get dehydrated
- Do not drink alcohol or sugary drinks
- Avoid exposure to cold air
Question- What to do if you get a cold wave?
Answer : If a person develops severe symptoms of a cold, contact a doctor immediately. Do not be careless in this as it can have very serious consequences.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).