Heat Stress and Culture in North India

Book excerpt: The study delineates interrelationships between the thermal environment, specially the prolonged seasonal heat stress, and human life and culture in North India. The subject is first treated historically, with a survey of the ideals and behavior of man's adaptation to the climate in ancient and medieval India, and in colonial Anglo-Indian society. Present-day adaptations to the climate, as reflected in housing, clothing, technology, daily regimen, and diet are described and examined in greater detail. The second part of the report centers on heat injuries, with a survey of their worldwide epidemiology, and statistics and maps showing their incidence since 1960 in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The folk beliefs, concepts and therapy which are generally applied in rural North India to the occurrence of heat injuries are described and examined. Appendices further describe the recognized heat disorders and the scientific indices for assessing comfort and heat stress. (Author).