People advised to take precautions against heat exhaustion

Rawalpindi
Individuals particularly those fasting in the holy month of Ramazan should take extraordinary preventive measures to avoid heat exhaustion that, without proper and in time treatment, can cause death.
Heat exhaustion if not managed in time may progress to heat stroke and can cause damage to brain and other vital organs in the body and even can cause death. Heat exhaustion is often associated with dehydration and can be avoided by avoiding exposure to extreme temperatures.
The main reasons behind heat exhaustion is either the deficiency of water or the deficiency of essential salts in the body and individuals under fasting are more prone to contract the health threat particularly in the existing severe heat spells, said Medical Specialist Dr. Muhammad Sohail Tariq while talking to ‘The News’ on Friday.
He explained the symptoms of heat exhaustion caused by deficiency of water include excessive thirst, headache, loss of consciousness and weakness in the body while the cases of heat exhaustion due to deficiency of certain salts in the body experience muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting and dizziness.
It is important that the severe heat spells in the country have already been posing serious health threat to public and have claimed well over 1200 lives so far this year. The allied hospitals in town including Benazir Bhutto Hospital, District Headquarters Hospital and Holy Family Hospital along with Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad have already been receiving patients with heat-related problems including heat exhaustion.
It is alarming that on average almost every third patient visiting public sector healthcare facilities in the region is with heat-related problem. Data collected by ‘The News’ has revealed that though majority of cases being reported at healthcare facilities are with gastro, the number of cases of heat exhaustion and heat stroke is also on the rise.
To a query, Dr. Sohail said it is time to create awareness among public on importance of immediate treatment in case of developing signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion. Confusion, dark-coloured urine, pale skin, fainting, profuse sweating and rapid heartbeat are also symptoms of heat exhaustion and should not be taken non-serious, he said.
Talking of first aid treatment, he said a patient should be given plenty of fluids without caffeine. Sponging with cool water, bath, removal of tight and unnecessary clothing and application of cooling measures like fan or ice towel also helps managing the threat, he said.
If the first aid treatment does not work, a patient should be taken to the nearest healthcare facility for treatment as delay in management can cause heat stroke, he added.
To avoid heat exhaustion, health experts suggest that individuals should not go out and spend long hours unnecessarily under the sun at daytime. If it is necessary to go out, one should cover head with hat or cloth and try to avoid exposure to sunlight as much as possible. If body temperature goes up and the body stops sweating, the person should immediately report to the nearest healthcare facility, said Dr. Sohail.
Lightweight, light-coloured and loose-fitting clothes should be put on to avoid heat exhaustion. Individuals particularly under fast should avoid spending time outdoors unnecessarily during the hottest hours of the day that is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., said Dr. Sohail.
Studies reveal that children below five years of age and adults over 65 years of age are more vulnerable to contract heat exhaustion in high temperatures and they should take more care in severe heat spells.