Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi have urged the public to take immediate precautions against heat-related illnesses as a severe heatwave continues to grip the capital and several other parts of the country. The advisory, issued on 21 May, comes as hospitals report a sharp uptick in cases of dehydration, heat stroke, and related conditions.

What Doctors Are Seeing

Dr Neeraj Nishchal, Professor in the Department of Medicine at AIIMS Delhi, said hospitals are witnessing a growing number of heatwave-related health complaints. The most commonly reported symptoms include dehydration, weakness, dizziness, headaches, excessive sweating, vomiting, and low blood pressure.

'In severe cases, heat stroke is being reported, where the body temperature rises dangerously high. Patients may suffer from high fever, unconsciousness, confusion, and sometimes even seizures,' Dr Nishchal said.

He identified the most vulnerable groups as elderly people, children, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.

The Dehydration-to-Heat Stroke Progression

Dr Piyush Ranjan, Additional Professor in the Department of Medicine at AIIMS Delhi, explained that heat-related illness follows a clear escalation. 'Whenever the temperature rises, health problems related to heat begin to appear. The first and mildest condition is dehydration, in which the body loses water and salts,' he said.

Dr Ranjan warned that untreated dehydration can progress to heat stroke — commonly known as 'loo lagna' — and in severe cases, patients may lose consciousness entirely. This clinical pattern, doctors note, becomes pronounced when daytime temperatures sustain above 40°C for consecutive days, as has been the case across Delhi and parts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana this season.

Key Precautions Advised

Dr Ranjan advised people to avoid stepping outdoors during peak afternoon hours. 'As far as possible, people should avoid going outdoors between 11 a.m. and 4–5 p.m., when temperatures are at their peak,' he said.

If venturing outside is unavoidable, he recommended wearing full-sleeved clothes, full-length trousers, and keeping the head covered with caps, scarves, or turbans. Use of umbrellas was also advised.

On hydration, Dr Ranjan stressed that preparation must begin before leaving home. 'People should drink sufficient water before stepping outside. Ideally, one or two litres of water should be consumed before leaving home. While outdoors, people should also consume electrolytes or ORS to maintain the balance of water and salts in the body and prevent dehydration,' he said.

Why Plain Water Is Not Enough

Dr Nishchal cautioned that plain water alone is insufficient during extreme heat. 'During extreme heat, the body loses not just water but also salt through sweating. Therefore, ORS solutions or electrolytes are considered more beneficial,' he said.

He also recommended traditional hydrating preparations — including Bel ka Sharbat, shikanji, and lentil water — as effective, accessible options for maintaining electrolyte balance during the heatwave. These home remedies, long used across North India during summer, are now being formally endorsed by AIIMS physicians as supplementary to ORS.

What to Watch For

With temperatures forecast to remain elevated across northern India through the coming week, public health officials are expected to issue further advisories. The AIIMS guidance underscores that early intervention — recognising dehydration before it escalates — remains the most effective line of defence against heat-related fatalities this season.