Docs: Take extra care over outdoor activities

Racing for cover Chinese tourists using umbrellas to escape the heat while sightseeing the Putra Mosque in Putrajaya. — SAHAR MISNI/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Outdoor enthusiasts should refrain from getting exposed to excessive sunlight due to the unusually hot weather.

“Being outdoors can stimulate one’s body temperature to rise,” said Medical Practitioner Coalitions Association of Malaysia (MPCAM) vice-president Dr Raj Kumar Maharajah.

There has been about a 10% increase in patients who visited Dr Raj’s clinic over illness related to heat wave such as leg eczema, heat rash and body aches.

“Initially, I suspected it was viral fever but it turned out that it was because of the hot weather,” he said.

Many of Dr Raj’s patients are children and senior citizens. He believes adults are healthier as they can protect themselves.

“Generally, adults drink more water during hot days and stay in air-conditioned rooms compared to children and senior citizens,” he said.

Family medicine registrar Dr Shaiful Ehsan said the sudden change in weather can cause dehydration due to loss of fluid in the body.

“Following this, several vital organs may not function well as a result of insufficient oxygen supply,” he added.

“Dehydration does not happen in a short time.

“It will only happen because of long hours of exposure to the sun,” he said, adding that symptoms of heat stroke are headache, rapid heart rate, shallow breathing and muscle cramps.

“If you experience any of those symptoms, it is best to get some rest so that your body can cool down,” Dr Shaiful said.

Malaysian Medical Association president Dr Ashok Zachariah Philip recommended Malaysians to stay indoors during these days.

“If you need to go outdoors, make it quick.

“Protect your skin by wearing long sleeves or apply sunblock to your skin,” he said.

General practitioner Dr C.S. Foo said that with sudden changes in the weather, drinking sufficient water daily would help prevent one from getting dehydrated.

“Living in this tropical weather, it is best to drink about 2.5 litres of water daily.

“But, this may vary between age, gender and body weight of a person,” he said.

“There are four pillars to optimal health, namely regular exercise, balanced diet, lifestyle and supplement consumption,” said Dr Foo, adding that one’s immune system was not built overnight.