INTERACTIVE: What are heat-related illnesses and how to protect yourself

According to the Sabah Health Department, in Malaysia, a heat wave is classified when the average daily maximum temperature exceeds 37°C for three consecutive days.

PETALING JAYA: From rashes and cramps to hyperventilation and delirium, long exposure to the current hot weather has a number of health risks.

Heat-related illnesses include a range of ailments from minor to major, with heat stroke being the most severe.

According to the Health Ministry, the risk factors of a heat stroke include being in a high environmental heat stress or hot weather involving individuals engaging in physical exercise, or physically fit individuals participating in athletic events, as well as those who perform jobs under conditions of high heat stress, such as firefighting or military training.

Heat stroke can also affect children who are left inside cars in hot weather.

Between April and mid-May, the Health Ministry recorded 16 cases of heat-related illnesses, which comprised four cases of heat stroke, six cases of heat exhaustion, and six cases of heat convulsions.

Out of the total number of heat-related cases, eight cases involved adults, three cases involved teenagers, three cases involved children, and two cases involved the elderly.

Learn more about the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness in the graphic below:

Take the quiz below to test your knowledge on the heatwave: