Skin burns, heat stroke due to intense heat

Prolonged intense heat in Ho Chi Minh City has negative impacts on health - Photo: DUYEN PHAN

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the weather in the South will continue to be hot this week. How to protect your health if you have to work outdoors to avoid heatstroke?

Special attention should be paid to the health of the elderly in hot weather. For those with a history of chronic diseases, it is necessary to take medication regularly, have regular check-ups, and eat a diet rich in minerals, vitamins, and green vegetables.

Dr. Truong Quang Anh Vu

Skin burns, digestive disorders, bronchitis...

In recent days, some children's hospitals and skin treatment hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City such as Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital and City Children's Hospital have received many patients coming to visit and treat diseases related to hot weather.

Feeling her skin burning and turning red after a long time of traveling and working outdoors in the hot sun, Ms. NTP (45 years old) went to the Dermatology Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City to "save" her skin. After examination, the doctor diagnosed Ms. P. with allergic dermatitis due to the sun.

Mr. D. (70 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) has a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and high blood pressure.

Recently, due to the hot weather, he is often tired, has difficulty eating and drinking, and has to frequently use fans and air conditioners.

About a week later, he began to experience symptoms such as dry cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. Although he took medication, his condition did not improve, and the coughing and difficulty breathing became more frequent at night.

Mr. D. was taken to Thong Nhat Hospital (HCMC) by his family for examination. Doctors diagnosed him with bronchitis and he had to be hospitalized for treatment.

Heat wave causes many elderly and children to be hospitalized

Speaking to Tuoi Tre, Dr. Truong Quang Anh Vu - Head of the Examination Department, Thong Nhat Hospital - said that during hot weather, the number of elderly people hospitalized will increase. At the hospital, the number of patients increases by about 20% during hot weather.

On average, the hospital receives 2,200 - 2,500 patients per day, mainly with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Especially ear, nose, throat and respiratory diseases related to heat.

Dr. Tran Vu Anh Dao - Department of Dermatology, Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital - said that the number of patients coming to the hospital for skin examination related to the hot weather in recent days has increased. Common diseases caused by the hot weather are dermatitis, sunburn, allergic dermatitis...

Regarding children, Dr. Nguyen Minh Tien - Deputy Director of the City Children's Hospital - said that in recent days the hospital has received many children coming for examination due to skin infections (pimples, heat rash, dermatitis...), digestive disorders, and a few children with pneumonia.

Elderly people come to see a doctor for medical conditions related to hot weather at Thong Nhat Hospital (HCMC) - Photo: THU HIEN

How to avoid heat stroke?

Direct exposure to intense heat makes us susceptible to heat stroke (also known as sunstroke).

To prevent children from getting heat stroke, Dr. Minh Tien recommends that parents let their children play or exercise in a cool environment. When children need to exercise outdoors, they should be exposed to the sun a few days before so that their bodies can gradually get used to the effects of the heat.

Avoid overexerting your child in the sun. If your child feels uncomfortable, stop exercising immediately and go to a shady place to rest.

If children have to practice and study outdoors regularly, limit each practice session to 20-25 minutes, maximum 45-60 minutes/day, and let children take breaks after a period of time, put them in a shady place to rest and drink water.

Also, give your child plenty of water when studying and practicing in hot environments. Choose light, thin, short-sleeved, light-colored clothing and a wide-brimmed hat to help keep your child cool.

For the elderly, Dr. Vu said that this is a group of people with many medical conditions and is prone to getting sicker when the weather changes to be too hot or too cold.

Some common diseases that easily get worse in the elderly during the hot season are: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, myocardial ischemia, high blood pressure, stroke, myocardial infarction...

Doctor Vu said that in the hot season, every family has a steam fan and air conditioner, but it should be noted that if you suddenly go outside when the room temperature and the ambient temperature are too different, it can lead to heat shock or dizziness. Therefore, before going from a low temperature environment, you should sit in a cool area first.

Heat wave in the South increases widely

The Southern Hydrometeorological Station said that the heat in the South has been decreasing in recent days, with cloudy skies.

However, since the beginning of this week, the subtropical high pressure system has been active across the South Central - Southern region. This is a weather pattern that causes clear skies and intense sunshine. Therefore, the weather in the South will be cloudy, with no rain at night and sunny during the day.

The heat will increase again in the region, especially in the Southeast, where the weather will be extremely hot and humid. In addition, the heat will tend to gradually expand in area. In the coming days, "cooling" rain is unlikely to appear in the South.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bong-da-soc-nhiet-vi-nang-nong-gay-gat-20240303232333003.htm