HOT WEATHER AND YOUR HEALTH

HOT WEATHER AND YOUR HEALTH

Extreme heat can damage your health seriously thus you need to go extra mile during this hot weather season to take good care of your health and that of your loved ones. When temperatures stay really high day after day, it can sometimes be fatal to your health.  Therefore, taking extreme care of your health is of utmost importance.

It is good to enjoy the hot weather but be sensible while doing so. Learning how to keep calm and cool during long periods of hot weather can help save a lot of lives.

There are so many risks attached to heat wave such as: 

• Dehydration (not having enough water);
• Overheating can make symptoms worse for people who already have problems with their heart or breathing;
• Heat exhaustion;
   
• Heatstroke. Can make people very ill and can sometimes be fatal and
• Catarrh and cough

The heat wave can affect anybody, but some are at a greater risk than others, such people include:

• Older people.
  
• Babies and young children.
• People with serious mental health problems.
• People on certain medication.
• People with a serious chronic condition, particularly breathing or heart problems.
• People who already have a high temperature from an infection.
• People who misuse alcohol or take illicit drugs.
• People with mobility problems.
• People who are physically active, like manual workers and sportsmen and women.

In order to continue living a healthy live during and after heat waves, you need to do some of these things to protect yourself and your loved ones:

• Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you are thirsty. Talk to your doctor first if you are on water pills;
• Avoid alcohol and sugary drinks;
• Take a cool shower or bath often;
• Use air conditioning or a fan;
• Don’t use a fan to blow extremely hot air on yourself, use it to create cross-ventilation;
• Wear lightweight and loose clothing;
• Avoid using your stove or oven;
• Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours;
• Rest often in shady areas;
• Wear a hat if possible or cover your head;
• Use sunscreen to protect your eyes;
• Consider packing a couple extra bottles of water, these could be used for you and your family or anyone you see that looks like they could use a cool drink of water.

How to Take care of others

• Visit or telephone elderly friends, neighbours and relatives regularly;
• Check that they have water in the fridge;
• Encourage them to drink a lot of fluid;
• Help them to find the coolest room in the house;
• Consider taking them to a cool place (e.g. shopping centre, library or cinema).
• Take particular care to keep children cool and get them to drink lots of water;
• Never leave babies, children or animals alone in a car even if the air-conditioner is on.

HEALTH THEY SAY IS WEALTH;