Avoid stepping out during heatwave, warns health experts

By Shalini Bhardwaj
New Delhi [India], May 21 : As the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Delhi and other parts of North India, health experts have warned people not to go outside from 11 am-4 pm as it can lead to several health issues.
Dr Neeraj Nishchal, AIIMS, professor, Department of Medicine, said that the problems caused by the increasing temperature could range from rash and heat exhaustion to serious problems like heat stroke.
"The human body is a very designed machine to take care of maximum things, but once the temperature of the environment in which the person is staying starts rising, then the body's mechanism of heat dissipation is overdone. So, that is when all these types of problems start happening. These problems could range from minor problems like rash, and heat exhaustion to serious problems like heat stroke. When we say heat stroke, it means the patient has become unconscious or the sensorium is not fine with that patient. The patient's body temperature has risen to more than 40 degrees centigrade or Celsius and multi-organ dysfunction may happen if the body temperature is not brought down immediately," Dr Nishchal said.
"We must preferably not step out when the temperature is very high, especially during the afternoon hours, say between 11 am-3 pm depending on the sunrise and sunset timing. So these afternoon hours are very hot and that is when the maximum chances of heat-related illness or heatstroke can happen," he added.
Dr Jatin Ahuja, an infectious disease specialist at Apollo Hospital, said, "We get heat cramps, which is one of the first initial manifestations, patients feel that something is going on in the form of cramps, muscle aches, but still, it can be fully reversible. Another is heat exhaustion. So, when the thermodynamic regulatory system or body is working, we don't have profuse sweating, mild breathlessness; patients will have the loss of or failure of the thermoregulatory system."
Dr Ajay Kumar Gupta, HOD, Department of Internal Medicine Max, Vaishali, said that the patients are suffering from heat strokes and other health-related issues due to rising temperatures.
"For the last week, we have been receiving many patients suffering from heat waves. Some had to be just given OPD treatment and were released, while there were two or three people who required admissions also," Dr Gupta said.
While giving some precautionary measures, Dr Gupta said to wear cotton clothes and use an umbrella while going out in the heat.
"People should not go out of their house from 11 am to 4 pm. But if you're moving out, then wear full-sleeved clothes. You should wear cotton clothes. We don't recommend any synthetic clothes. You should wear a hat or if preferable, if you're not consciously carrying an umbrella, then ideally you should be getting on with sunglasses to protect yourselves from the sun," he said.
Heat Wave conditions can result in physiological strain, which could even result in death.
To minimise the impact during the heat wave and to prevent serious ailment or death because of heat stroke, you can take the following measures: Avoid going out in the sun, especially between 12.00 noon and 3.00 m; Drink sufficient water and as often as possible, even if not thirsty; Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose, and porous cotton clothes. Use protective goggles, umbrella/hat, shoes or chappals while going out in sun.