New Delhi, May 19: The Ministry of Ayush, in coordination with the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, has issued a comprehensive advisory on extreme heat and heatwave conditions for the ongoing summer season.
The advisory urges citizens to take preventive measures such as staying hydrated, avoiding direct sunlight during peak hours, wearing light cotton clothing, and consuming seasonal fruits and electrolyte-rich fluids. Special focus has been placed on vulnerable groups, including children, elderly persons, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and individuals with chronic illnesses.
For workplaces and public gatherings, the advisory recommends shaded rest areas, regular hydration breaks, and awareness of early symptoms of heat stress, including dizziness, nausea, headache, dehydration, and high body temperature. Heatstroke has been identified as a medical emergency, with citizens advised to seek immediate medical help and contact emergency helplines 108/102 where necessary.
The advisory also incorporates guidance from traditional Ayush systems, including Ayurveda, Siddha, Yoga, Unani, and Homoeopathy. It highlights cooling dietary practices, traditional beverages, and yoga-based breathing techniques such as Sheetali Pranayama to help manage heat stress.
Citizens are further encouraged to consume hydrating foods like watermelon, cucumber, musk melon, ash gourd, and lime, and to regularly follow weather updates from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for heatwave alerts.
The Ministry stated that the advisory aims to combine modern public health measures with traditional wellness knowledge to help reduce heat-related health risks during extreme summer conditions.