Days of high heat and danger are here

ARE you drinking enough fluids?

Hot weather is here again as Malaysia moves into “musim timur”, as folk in the north of the peninsula call the north-east monsoon.

Following a stretch of cool and wet days, it can be easy to forget the precautions we need to take when the weather turns hot and dry.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) defines heatwaves as daily maximum temperatures exceeding 37°C for three consecutive days.

But the thing is, it doesn’t have to get that hot for our health to be affected. As the World Health Organisation (WHO) puts it, “Even low and moderate intensity heatwaves can impact the health and well-being of vulnerable populations”.

Infants and seniors are very susceptible to high temperatures. Even adults can be affected when we experience continuous days of high heat.

The danger posed by heat is a double whammy: Blood vessels open up to keep the body’s core cool, which makes the heart work harder to get blood around the body; sweating leads to loss of fluids and salt, changing the vital balance between them in the body.

Together, these factors can lead to heat exhaustion. Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, fainting, confusion, muscle cramps, headaches, heavy sweating, tiredness.

According to the WHO: “Heat stress is the leading cause of weather-related deaths and can exacerbate underlying illnesses including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health, asthma, and can increase the risk of accidents and transmission of some infectious diseases”.

It’s all avoidable by taking simple precautions: Hydrate, do not wait for thirst to strike – remember, confusion is one of the symptoms of an overheated body, so if you wait that long, you might not be aware enough to drink.

Aim for at least three litres of water daily and avoid sugary or caffeinated drinks, which speed up fluid loss.

Special care must be extended to our most vulnerable citizens.

Families must ensure older people are kept in well-ventilated, cool areas and that children are discouraged from any strenuous outdoor play in the middle of the day when heat is the highest.

Infants must be watched very carefully – they can’t complain of feeling ill, and their tiny bodies can’t handle much variance at all.

For all of us, basically, stay indoors, stay cool, and most importantly, stay hydrated.