Doctor: Don’t take heatstroke lightly
PETALING JAYA: Heatstroke and dehydration are not to be taken lightly. Such problems can lead to death if left untreated, a doctor warns.
Dr Mohammad Shazli, 38, who runs a clinic at Phileo Damansara, said some signs of heatstroke were exhaustion, fainting, heart palpitations, headaches, fever and cough.
“If the person affected does not seek medical help immediately, he could potentially lose his life,” he said in an interview.
He also said the number of patients who had visited his clinic due to heat-related problems has increased by 20% since the hot spell began.
“To protect yourself from the heatwave, you should be well hydrated. Drink lots of water, especially if you are consuming caffeine and durian,” he added.
People are also seeking popular remedies by drinking herbal teas or coconut water.
Warren Tan, 29, and his wife Nickcolle Chew, 27, were seen queueing up for coconut water at Aboo Siti Lane in Penang. Tan said the drink provided relief from the hot weath- er and also soothed his wife’s gastritis.
Shop owner P. Sarasvathy, 56, said around 300 to 400 coconuts were snapped up daily, many of which were distributed to various roadside stalls.
Meanwhile, second generation herbal drink seller A.S. Tang, 51, who operates from a truck in Rangoon Road, said business was good since early this month due to the hot weather.
“We sell up to 500 cups daily, and the bestseller is koh teh (bitter tea), as it is made up of more than 10 types of herbs which are good for sore throat, cough or ulcer, especially during this hot season,” he said.
A staff from a herbal tea shop in Petaling Jaya, Maggie Mok, 40, also said that the number of customers increased following the dry spell, which began in May.
“One of our bestsellers is the ling yang zhu zhe (antelope horn sugarcane tea). However, ku cha (bitter tea) works the best to ‘clear’ heat,” she said, adding that they could sell up to 100 bottles a day.