PHCC offers tips for preventing heat-related illness
TO safeguard public safety, the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has offered some tips to prevent common summer diseases.
Dr Al Anoud Saleh Al Fehaidi, senior consultant Family Medicine and manager of PHCC’s Qatar University Health Center, said that during summer season, certain diseases arise due to rising temperatures and humidity. Direct contact through family gatherings leads to spreading some respiratory and internal diseases, in addition to exposure to direct sunlight, which increases skin burns and heatstroke.
She noted that some cases of pulmonary and respiratory infections, allergic rhinitis, allergic sinusitis, eye allergies, and skin allergies, increase due to the direct effect of heat and humidity on the body and the sudden change in temperature when moving from a cold place to a hot place and vice versa, using air conditioners or electric fans, or diving into swimming pools and the sea.
Dr. Al Fehaidi advised the public to avoid direct and too much exposure to the sun, especially around noon, and not to position themselves directly under the air conditioning, especially when it is bedtime. They should also take precautions and adhere to social distancing to prevent the transmission of infections.
As for asthma patients, they should be more careful with high humidity and dusty weather. They should avoid doing outdoor activities in this weather and be sure to bring their medicines and inhalers, especially when exercising, walking, or riding a bicycle.
Dr. Al Fehaidi added that people should not leave food out of refrigeration in hot weather for too long, as this may lead to food spoilage, which may lead to stomach flu or even food poisoning, noting that this causes symptoms like stomach and abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, and extreme fatigue. Food poisoning may also lead to severe dehydration and organ failure, which may lead to death if appropriate treatment was not given. People most vulnerable to this are children, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases.
She advised the public to wear appropriate light and spacious clothing for the hot weather, made of breathable and sweat-absorbing fabrics, such as cotton and linen, noting that they should avoid wearing tight clothing and heavy fabrics such as rayon, polyester, nylon, and velvet.
In addition to wearing light colours, applying sunscreen to protect the skin from dryness and skin burns, wearing appropriate sunglasses, and wearing oversized straw hats or using umbrellas to avoid direct exposure to the sun.*