Have you noticed that the weather has been very hot lately? It was recorded that Bintulu, Mukah and Sibu has the highest temperature between 50oC to 60oC during the past one week. The weather for the rest of Sarawak is still pretty hot with temperatures between 30oC to 40oC.
The weather is so hot and humid that it makes you miserable. You sweat so much. You feel excessively tired fast. The air-conditioning and the fans are at full blast. The only advantage is that our laundry dries very fast.
Who is at risk for heat-related illness?
A heatwave can affect anyone, but the most vulnerable people are older people, especially those over 75; babies and young children; people with a serious chronic condition, especially heart or breathing problems; people with mobility problems (for example, people with Parkinson’s disease or who have had a stroke); people with serious mental health problems; people on certain medications, including those that affect sweating and temperature control; people who misuse alcohol or drugs and people who are physically active (labourers or those doing sports).
What does extremely hot weather do to you?
The heat causes a hormone, called aldosterone, to be released by your body. It enhances water retention. In addition, the very small blood vessels at the peripheral part of your body expand and the blood flow also slows down.
These result in excess fluid pools at dangling areas of your limbs. As the result, your hands, feet and ankles will swell temporarily.
These usually resolve in a few days, as soon as your body get used to the warmer environment. Support stockings and raising the affected legs would be helpful in reducing the swellings.
However, you need to look out for the signs and symptoms of the three heat-related illnesses, which are heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
What can you do to prevent heat-related illness?
Drink a lot of water no matter what type of physical activities you are doing (don’t wait until you are thirsty); drink isotonic or sport drinks (100Plus, Revive, Gatorade) as it can help to replace the minerals and salts lost while sweating; try to remain indoors; limit outdoor activities ; take frequent rests; take a bath or use the fan to cool your body down; wear light-weight, light-coloured and loose-fitting cloths and wear a big hat or umbrella.
Try to avoid drinking drinks with caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate drinks), alcohol or high sugar (carbonated drinks, cordial drinks, syrups); abandoning someone in a closed vehicle and exercising under the hot sun.
How do I know if someone needs help? If someone is feeling unwell and shows symptoms of breathlessness; chest pain; confusion; intense thirst; weakness; dizziness and cramps that get worse or don’t go away – get the person somewhere cool to rest; remove their tight clothes; apply wet and cool clothes on the body; use the fan to cool their body down, give them plenty of fluids to drink and get help if the symptoms persist.
