THE El Niño phenomenon has not only ruined people’s livelihood, but has also contributed bad effects on people’s health.
“One of the causes of heat stroke is the extreme hot weather that we are experiencing at the moment,” said Suzette Limbaga, Information officer at the Department of Health (DOH 7).
According to the National Center for Diseases Prevention and Control, heat stroke is the most severe form of heat illness when the body overheats and can’t cool down. The body cannot take off the excessive heat by sweating because of dehydration and the humid environment.
The most vulnerable to this health risk are children and the elderly, and it’s not advisable for them to stay outdoors between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. She added that when you take a dip in the beach you should use sunblock before and one hour after because the sun is not anymore "friendly" during these hours. Here are some of the causes of heat stroke, according to National Center for Health Promotion:
u00b7 Very hot and humid weather.
· Vigorous exercise in hot weather.
· The person is dehydrated.
· The person has too much direct exposure to the sun.
There are also signs of heat exhaustion: warm and flushed skin, dizziness, weakness and headache. It may progress to an emergency condition if the person has a very high fever (41degrees Celsius), rapid heartbeat, convulsion, delirium and unconsciousness.
If you want to prevent heat stroke, you should apply the following:
u00b7 Limit the amount of time you spend outdoors.
· Drink plenty of water. Avoid tea, coffee, soda and alcohol.
· Wear a wide-brimmed hat and long-sleeved clothing when outdoors.
· Schedule heavy-duty activities at the beginning or end of the day, when it’s cooler. (Jazzel O. Bajenting, UP Mass Comm. Intern)