Dehydration and Heat Stroke (very important during summer)

Dehydration and Heat Stroke

The danger of dehydration and heat stroke:

Dehydration and heat stroke are two very common heat-related diseases that can be life-threatening if left untreated.

What is dehydration?

Dehydration can be a serious heat-related disease, as well as being a dangerous side-effect of diarrhea, vomiting and fever. Children and persons over the age of 60 are particularly susceptible to dehydration.

What causes dehydration?

Under normal conditions, we all lose body water daily through sweat, tears, urine and stool. In a healthy person, this water is replaced by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water. When a person becomes so sick with fever, diarrhea, or vomiting or if an individual is overexposed to the sun, dehydration occurs. This is caused when the body loses water content and essential body salts such as sodium, potassium, calcium bicarbonate and phosphate.

Occasionally, dehydration can be caused by drugs, such as diuretics, which deplete body fluids and electrolytes. Whatever the cause, dehydration should be treated as soon as possible.

What are the symptoms of dehydration?

The following are the most common symptoms of dehydration, although each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

·                     thirst

·                     less-frequent urination

·                     dry skin

·                     fatigue

·                     light-headedness

·                     dizziness

·                     confusion

·                     dry mouth and mucous membranes

·                     increased heart rate and breathing

In children, additional symptoms may include:

·                     dry mouth and tongue

·                     no tears when crying

·                     no wet diapers for more than 3 hours

·                     sunken abdomen, eyes or cheeks

·                     high fever

·                     listlessness

·                     irritability

·                     skin that does not flatten when pinched and released

Treatment for dehydration:

If caught early, dehydration can often be treated at home under a physician's guidance. In children, directions for giving food and fluids will differ according to the cause of the dehydration, so it is important to consult your pediatrician.

In cases of mild dehydration, simple rehydration is recommended by drinking fluids. Many sports drinks on the market effectively restore body fluids, electrolytes, and salt balance.

For moderate dehydration, intravenous fluids may be required, although if caught early enough, simple rehydration may be effective. Cases of serious dehydration should be treated as a medical emergency, and hospitalization, along with intravenous fluids, is necessary. Immediate action should be taken.

How can dehydration be prevented?

Take precautionary measures to avoid the harmful effects of dehydration, including:

·                     Drink plenty of fluids, especially when working or playing in the sun.

·                     Make sure you are taking in more fluid than you are losing.

·                     Try to schedule physical outdoor activities for the cooler parts of the day.

·                     Drink appropriate sports drinks to help maintain electrolyte balance.

·                     For infants and young children, solutions like Pedialyte will help maintain electrolyte balance during illness or heat exposure. Do not try to make fluid and salt solutions at home for children.

What is heat stroke?

Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness and is a life-threatening emergency. It is the result of long, extreme exposure to the sun, in which a person does not sweat enough to lower body temperature. The elderly, infants, persons who work outdoors and those on certain types of medications are most susceptible to heat stroke. It is a condition that develops rapidly and requires immediate medical treatment.

What causes heat stroke?

Our bodies produce a tremendous amount of internal heat and we normally cool ourselves by sweating and radiating heat through the skin. However, in certain circumstances, such as extreme heat, high humidity or vigorous activity in the hot sun, this cooling system may begin to fail, allowing heat to build up to dangerous levels.

If a person becomes dehydrated and can not sweat enough to cool their body, their internal temperature may rise to dangerously high levels, causing heat stroke.

What are the symptoms of heat stroke?

The following are the most common symptoms of heat stroke, although each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

·                     headache

·                     dizziness

·                     disorientation, agitation or confusion

·                     sluggishness or fatigue

·                     seizure

·                     hot, dry skin that is flushed but not sweaty

·                     a high body temperature

·                     loss of consciousness

·                     rapid heart beat

·                     hallucinations

How is heat stroke treated?

It is important for the person to be treated immediately as heat stroke can cause permanent damage or death. There are some immediate first aid measures you can take while waiting for help to arrive.

·                     Get the person indoors.

·                     Remove clothing and gently apply cool water to the skin followed by fanning to stimulate sweating.

·                     Apply ice packs to the groin and armpits.

·                     Have the person lie down in a cool area with their feet slightly elevated

Intravenous fluids are often necessary to compensate for fluid or electrolyte loss. Bed rest is generally advised and body temperature may fluctuate abnormally for weeks after heat stroke.

How can heat stroke be prevented?

There are precautions that can help protect you against the adverse effects of heat stroke. These include:

·                     Drink plenty of fluids during outdoor activities, especially on hot days. Water and sports drinks are the drinks of choice; avoid tea, coffee, soda and alcohol as these can lead to dehydration.

·                     Wear lightweight, tightly woven, loose-fitting clothing in light colors.

·                     Schedule vigorous activity and sports for cooler times of the day.

·                     Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a hat, sunglasses and using an umbrella.

·                     Increase time spent outdoors gradually to get your body used to the heat.

·                     During outdoor activities, take frequent drink breaks and mist yourself with a spray bottle to avoid becoming overheated.

·                     Try to spend as much time indoors as possible on very hot and humid days.

If you live in a hot climate and have a chronic condition, talk to your physician about extra precautions you can take to protect yourself against heat stroke.

Chand Baori - The Deepest Step Well in the World is in India

1000 years old...... Deepest step well in the world - Jaipur- India  

.....still in immaculate condition....... this is engineering wonder..... without modern day....instruments....

Chand Baori - The Deepest Step well in the World
Chand Baori is a famous step well situated in the village Abhaneri near Jaipur in Indian state of Rajasthan.
The Chand Baori, a vast well with flights of steps on three sides, is a 10th century monument situated in Abhaneri. It is a fine example of the architectural excellence prevalent in the past. This impressive step well is as deep as a seven storeyed building.
The famous Harshat Mata temple situated opposite to this well shows that there must have been a religious connection with the step-well. The well is 35 m on each side with steps leading down from each side and water can be drawn from any level. It has so many steps to make it impossible for someone to retrieve a coin once it ' s been dropped in the well.

www.eface.in

Why wedding ring is on the fourth finger?

Why wedding ring is worn on the fourth finger...its very interesting!!! This is interesting Try it out ! Why should the wedding ring be worn on the fourth finger? There is a beautiful and convincing explanation given..... Thumb represents your Parents Second (Index) finger represents your Siblings Middle finger represents your-Self Fourth (Ring) finger represents your Life Partner & the Last (Little) finger represents your children Firstly , open your palms (face to face) , bend the middle fingers and hold them together - back to back Secondly , open and hold the remaining three fingers and the thumb - tip to tip (As shown in the figure below): Now , try to separate your thumbs (representing the parents)... , they will open , because your parents are not destined to live with you lifelong , and have to leave you sooner or later. Please join your thumbs as before and separate your Index fingers (representing siblings).... , they will also open , because your brothers and sisters will have their own families and will have to lead their own separate lives. Now join the Index fingers and separate your Little fingers (representing your children).... , they will open too , because the children also will get married and settle down on their own some day. Finally , join your Little fingers , and try to separate your Ring fingers (representing your spouse). You will be surprised to see that you just CANNOT..... , because Husband & Wife have to remain together all their lives - through thick and thin!! Please try this out............. I SN 'T THIS A LOVELY THEORY???????????

a cycling pilgrimage to 88 Shikoku temples

Views from a bike: A scene on the way to Yokomine-ji Temple in Ehime Prefecture, number 60 on the Shikoku pilgrimage route. JAN-WILLEM PAIJENS PHOTOS

On the road to paradise: a cycling pilgrimage to 88 Shikoku temples

By JAN-WILLEM PAIJENS

Special to The Japan Times

The girl at the cash register of the convenience store gives me a free bottle of iced tea and wishes me "Good luck!" As I remount my bike, I pop a sushi roll she also gave me into my mouth and set off, blissfully relaxed under blue skies, heading for the next temple.

A rock garden at Kongobu-Ji, in Koya-san, headquarters of the Shingon school and the residence of the of Koya-san's abbot.

At my next halt along the way, a grocer presents me with a bag of mikan tangerines, and others along the village street give me onigiri (rice balls), cans of coffee and other snacks for free. Later, even a man in a repair shop who fixes my bike refuses to accept a penny for his work.

Is this paradise?

In fact it is Shikoku, the smallest of Japan's four main islands, and I am cycling the 1,200-km pilgrims' route that takes in 88 Buddhist temples. I am already three weeks into my odyssey, each day covering a handful of temples, and I have now reached Kagawa Prefecture in Shikoku's northeastern corner. It's the area known to pilgrims as Nehan Dojo, meaning a spiritual training place for reaching Nirvana.

Every year about 150,000 Japanese, and an increasing number of foreigners, make this pilgrimage. It's a circular route, so you end up back where you started. Some people say that visiting the 88 temples removes 88 delusions, so every time you reach another one you supposedly shed one more delusion. It's a centuries-old custom, and Shikoku natives are happy to help pilgrims on their arduous journey by bestowing on them all kinds of gifts, known as osettai. One person gives you an orange, another gives you a lift in their car and someone else may well put you up for the night free of charge.

All this giving, though, isn't just out of kindness. In fact, what they're doing is offering their osettai — through the pilgrims — to probably the most important monk in Japan's history, Kukai (774-835), who is also known as Kobo Daishi and is credited with the invention of the kana syllabary. In 804, Kukai sailed to China as a student monk, returning a few years later to introduce esoteric Shingon Buddhism to Japan.

Jan-Willem Paijens takes a break on the way to temple 60.

Such lofty stuff was, however, far from my mind when, 600 km into my trip, my bike's gear broke down, and the chain became hopelessly stuck just before Ashizuri Misaki deep in the southwest of Shikoku. Fortunately, after walking and pushing the bike for barely half an hour, I came upon a small bicycle shop run by one Yoshikazu Mori, who repaired my bike quickly and adamantly refused any payment. "No need to pay," he told me, "it's osettai." 'W hich country are you from?" It's the first question I am always asked. Nobody understands The Netherlands or Holland, but when I say "Hollanda," everybody knows that — and it often causes surprise and admiration for one with roots so distant to be making this exacting circuit.

The pilgrims come from all levels of society. Among the ones I met were a polished Tokyo businessman who was walking the route, a group of housewives touring by bus and a posse of macho-looking, leather-clad guys going round on motorbikes. Regardless of roots, though, there is a relaxed kind of camaraderie among the pilgrims. On the road, people greet each other jauntily, and it doesn't matter whether you are a foreigner or a Japanese, you are just a pilgrim like all the others.

Shikoku pilgrims follow in the footsteps of Kukai, who is said to have visited all 88 temples during his lifetime — and to have founded several of them along with Shingon Buddhism in Japan, which now has around 10 million followers. Shingon means "true words," or "mantra." This school of Buddhism — which, outside Japan, is only found in Tibet — holds it possible to attain enlightenment during this current lifetime. Surely, with all these osettai, a pilgrim couldn't be blamed for thinking that, on Shikoku, that state of bliss had already come. S hikoku's 88-temple route is a religious journey, not a backpacker's trip — but you don't need to be a Buddhist.

Buddhist monks walk on the main street of Koya-san.

Traditionally, pilgrims always walked the entire circuit, but that's very demanding physically, and few these days have sufficient time. Consequently, pilgrimages by car or tour bus are now common, though I chose a bicycle because I didn't want to avoid the physical challenge entirely.

The pilgrim's clothing, including a conical straw hat, appears slightly eccentric to most Westerners — or perhaps like a kind of religious samurai, but with a kongozue (wooden staff), believed to be an embodiment of Kukai in place of a sword. That's why it's said that a pilgrim never walks alone, since that monk of old is there all the time.

I sleep mostly in minshuku (family-run guest houses) and occasionally in a more expensive ryokan (traditional Japanese inn) where, as a foreign visitor, it's a bit of a challenge to work out the purpose of all the different plastic slippers — not to mention overcoming shyness to sit together with other guests in a bath. Soon, though, you realize what a convivial setting the big communal bath is — as well as being an excellent place to gather information for the trip.

Local service: Yoshikazu Mori offers osettai, a gift to pilgrims, in this case free bicycle repairs, at his bicycle repair shop in Tosa-Shimizu, Kochi Prefecture.

Pilgrims I met invariably had excellent maps showing every detail of the route. However, it's said they shouldn't only follow in the footsteps of Kukai, but they should also try to find the enlightenment he was searching for. To that end there is another kind of map, one known as the Heart Sutra, which is the most important sutra of Mahayana Buddhism. That sutra is recited by most pilgrims at all temples along the route, and the idea behind the pilgrimage is that during the long journey pilgrims have time to contemplate the sutra and, when they reach the final, 88th temple, perhaps they will really understand its message. Then — who knows — one day they may become enlightened beings. S hikoku's climate, the traffic and the location of the temples make life difficult for pilgrims. Tropical heat alternates with heavy rain and thunderstorms. I myself experienced the 18th typhoon of the year. At such times it seems not unreasonable to wonder just why you are putting yourself through all this.

In addition, whether walking or cycling, the temple route mostly follows paved roads. This means that you are constantly being passed by traffic. Distances between temples can also be up to 60 or 70 km, and they are often very picturesquely located on the summits of hills or mountains. Consequently, the physical challenge of the pilgrimage is ideal for those who want to lose weight.

Fortunately for weary pilgrims, though, the temples themselves are like oases. They take you back in time, away from the chaos of the modern world. The temples are the last remnants of "Lost Japan," to which a book of the same name by Japan specialist Alex Kerr refers.

At the temples, the poignant differences from the outside world can almost bring on a feeling of sadness, though the "loss" in question is not, of course, limited to Japan, rather it is worldwide.

Only 10 temples left to go: Motoyama-ji, in Kagawa Prefecture, with the five-storied pagoda that was built by Kobo Daishi and restored in 948, is temple 70 on the Shikoku pilgrimage.

For a long time I wasn't sure if I would complete the route. Especially the higher-altitude temples, Daihoji and Iwayaji, numbers 44 and 45 on the route, which appeared to be a major obstacle on a bicycle. However, the body gets used to the daily exertions, even when my lowest gear finally broke completely. Mr. Mori had already warned me that would likely happen, and when I asked him in a bit of a panic how I could continue the trip if it did, his answer was amazingly simple: "Just go on without it."

Is that Zen, or Shingon — or just healthy positive thinking? Whatever it was, it helped. Arriving in Kagawa Prefecture, the Nehan Dojo of the route, the last 23 temples await, for which I will need only one more week. The most difficult part of the circuit is now behind me. I am following the footsteps of the old master, Kukai. The end of the journey will finally bring enlightenment, if not spiritual then at least a considerable physical lightening.