Heatwave: Kids to elders to workers on docters’ caution list
Rising mercury levels have resulted in a surge in the number of cases of heat-related illness
With the surge in the number of cases of heat-related illness in hospitals due to rising mercury levels and heat waves in several parts of the State, doctors caution that children, infants, the elderly, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and labourers need to be extra vigilant.
One can easily get dehydrated due to heat gain generated by the body itself or the heat from the environment. The heat waves cause lots of complications.
Explaining this, Dr Afreen Shabir, Internal Medicine, Gleneagles Health City, Chennai, says, “Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to control its temperature and when the temperature rises above 103 and the body will not be able to cool down. As a result, the skin becomes red and dry, and headache, nausea, dizziness, seizures, hyperventilation, muscle twitching, and temporary loss of consciousness occur. Thus, heat stroke should not be neglected and it needs immediate medical attention.”
Heat exhaustion is marked by fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headache, migraine, nausea,
vomiting, muscle cramps, and excessive sweating.
Elaborating on the impact of heat stress, Dr Afreen says that heat stress is when the body is unable to cool down and the sweat takes time to evaporate since the
humidity is high. Symptoms may include heavy sweating and a rapid pulse and sunburn and heat rashes, painful red blisters mainly on the chest, back, and hands.
Experts observe that chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are prominent during peak summers and they can even lead to premature death.
“Avoid outdoor activities during peak sun intensity -- between 10 am and 4 pm and schedule strenuous activities for cooler parts of the day like early morning or late evening. Always seek shade when outdoors during the daytime,” advises Dr Spoorthi Arun, Internal Medicine Consultant, at Promed Hospital.
She also added that it is important to protect your skin with broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30, reapplying every two hours, especially if you’re swimming or sweating.
Meanwhile, Dr Soundari, Regional Head of Clinical Services at Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital explains that summer heat and humidity can lead to an increase in eye infections. “To prevent eye infections, keep your eyes clean by washing your hands frequently and avoiding touching your eyes. If you wear contact lenses, follow proper hygiene including washing your hands before inserting or removing your lenses and replacing them as prescribed by your doctor.”