We are always exposed to heatstroke unless we take care:
“It’s really hot, isn’t it?” is not a simple expression of greetings. It is an honest utterance of one’s “agony” in this continued heat every day. During the week after July 19, more than 9,000 people were taken to hospitals by ambulance for heat attacks. Of them, as many as 100 or more lost their lives under the heat. This phenomenon continues despite the daily report on heatstroke, commonly called Necchusho in Japanese. What does it mean? It means people are not taking enough care of their health which is being damaged tremendously beyond imagination. In Gifu Prefecture, it was reported that the temperature marked 39.4 degrees Celsius on a blast of burning wind, which brought cutting pain to the skin. The temperature on the ground rose to 50 degrees or higher.
This state of weather is not limited to Japan but it covers the whole hemisphere. In the vicinity of Moscow, Russia, the heat caused forest fires at 28 locations and the smoke contaminated the atmosphere, resulting in heavy smog. People there are wearing face masks, they say. The high temperatures are a result of triple effect of the Tibetan and Pacific high atmospheric pressures, and the high pressure above the 6,000 meter altitude. In other words, the entire atmosphere on earth is covered by high atmospheric pressures.

The Perception of Heat Attacks in Oriental Medicine:
Oriental Medical term of heat attack is “Chusho,” meaning “in the midst of heat.” When the attack gets worse, it is called “Shousho,” which means “injured by heat.” Those who get dehydrated and lose their lives due to disturbance in consciousness are victims of “Shousho.” Its symptom differs from person to person, but in early stages,
headache, nausea, lethargy, and lack of appetite are common among the sufferers, but many fail to realize that these symptoms are caused by the heat.
These days, a number of people come to my clinic, complaining of one symptom or another, but few of them seem to realize that the heat is to blame. Some admit one single acupuncture prick on the abdomen has made them feel much better and relieved.
In deteriorated cases, they tend to feel sick and dizzy and even driven to puke up, or become unable to keep standing and sustain consciousness.
The most perilous aspect of a heat attack is it causes physical dehydration. Those who have high blood-pressures, a tendency toward myocardial infarction or thrombophilia must be very careful. The important key in coping with heatstroke is to know how to keep well-hydrated.

Susceptibility to Heatstroke:
Elderly people are more likely to be affected because their bodily functions to absorb
and retain moisture decline, hindering effective metabolism. The process can be likened to a cut flower. While a freshly cut flower has a more effective capability of raising and preserving water, older one loses such effectiveness. Likewise, elderly people’s water preserving power is weaker than that of younger people. Also, the people whose bodily functions are weakened due to atopic heatstroke, physical strain or lack of sleep should take extra care. Thus, we should have a good knowledge of our physical mechanisms and take care not to fall victim to extreme heat. It is indeed very regrettable that some people are dying unnecessarily due to carelessness. Not keeping
the stomach and spleen appropriately warm is just as bad and may cause loose bowels and exhaustion. Thus, it is very important to know about one’s body conditions and try to keep them well balanced. Give thought to the following (20) assumptions and check the numbers where you think you fit in. The more numbers you check, the greater is your susceptibility to heatstroke.

1)Those who are older than 60 years and have higher blood pressures
2)Those who have a tendency to constipation
3)Those whose intake of vegetables are deficient
4)Those who are fond of meat and greasy food
5)Those who are susceptible to skin festering
6)Those who are fond of drinking cold beverages
7)Those who are excessively sensitive to hot weather
8)Those who tend to discharge deep yellow urine
9)Those who lose appetite due to hot weather
10)Those who are fond of drinking and smoking
11)Those who have suffered from itchy skin inflammation or eczema
12)Those who tend not to sleep well
13)Those who tend to suffer from mouth sores
14)Those who are impatient and get easily irritated
15)Women whose intervals between periods get shorter (twice a month, for instance)
16)Those whose eyes are usually bloodshot
17)Those whose legs tend to feel glowing hot in bed at night
18)Those who tend to overeat themselves
19)Those whose tongue tend to look red and dry
20)Those who feel a burning sensation around the anus when excreting

In all cases, except No.9 and No.12, dehydration due to heat is involved. Taking care of oneself, wherever is possible, is important by eating much vegetable food, for instance, keeping exhaustion away, sleeping well, and maintaining well-balanced diet. I would recommend a habit of eating such items of food as melons, watermelons, cucumbers, and fruits, which are all effective in keeping the body temperatures down. Also, do not forget to take enough salt-containing food such as pickled plums.
I would also advise keeping room temperatures below 30 degrees Celsius, and using things that help keep temperatures down, such as water pillows or some sort of refrigerant. In any case, try to overcome this heat, for I believe that, if used wisely, human cleverness can prevail over the rage of nature.