Dubai heat-related illnesses and prevention tips
If you have ever experienced a Dubai summer, one thing you’ll probably never forget is the scorching heat. When a heat wave is in full swing, the temperature can hit up to 40°C, and even near 50°C in some areas. No wonder a lot of expats, especially those from cooler regions, find it hard to adapt to the local climate, and fall prey to myriad heat-related illnesses.
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In today’s Pacific Prime Dubai article, we are going to highlight three major heat-related illnesses and some hot tips for you to stay cool and beat the heat.
How does a heat wave affect the body?
The normal body temperature of a person ranges from 36.1 to 37.8°C. Under normal conditions, the body will perspire to keep itself cool. However, if the weather is humid or the person has already drunk a lot of water, it is more difficult for them to sweat. Moreover, if the heat goes on for too long and is unbearable, the body will stop producing sweat altogether and become extremely hot, which could be detrimental to one’s body and, if left untreated, fatal.
Heat-related illnesses
If you’re not used to the sweltering heat, you’re more prone to heat-related illnesses. One may ignore the body’s warning signals when they first show, and end up losing consciousness. Therefore, it is crucial for you to know the illnesses, the symptoms, and the treatments of the most common heat-related illnesses to protect yourself and the people around you.
Heat cramps
As the earliest symptom of heat-related illnesses, heat cramps usually affect people who engage in physically-demanding outdoor activities. Caused by dehydration and electrolyte imbalance in the body, heat cramps result in intermittent and involuntary spasms of larger muscles.
Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Sweating
- Intermittent, involuntary spasms in major muscles, such as pectorals or quadriceps
Treatment
Heat cramps can usually be treated on the spot. The affected person should find shade to rest in and cool down their body. He/she should also stretch the cramped muscles, and drink water or sports drinks to replenish the electrolytes lost in sweat.
It is also worth noting that if a person shows other symptoms, he/she may be suffering from heat exhaustion or even heat stroke.
Heat exhaustion
Heat exhaustion takes place when one’s body fails to meet cooling demands, and maintains a high core body temperature. This is the body’s response to the loss of water and salt from heavy sweating. If left untreated, it can progress to heat stroke.
Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Profuse perspiration
- Vomiting
- Muscle cramps
- Possible fainting
Treatment
You should call an ambulance immediately. Similar to treating heat cramps, one should stop what they are doing and move to a cooler place to rest. They should also rehydrate their body with water and/or sports drinks.
Heat stroke
Heat stroke is the most severe form of heat-related illness. When the body’s temperature goes over 40°C, it will stop sweating and have dry skin, which means that the body can no longer regulate its core temperature to get rid of excess heat. Since this is a critical emergency with a mortality rate of over 50%, medical attention should be sought immediately once a person is diagnosed with heat stroke.
Symptoms
- High body temperature
- Dry skin
- Breathing difficulties
- Confusion
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Fast heart rate
Treatment
Call an ambulance immediately. Get the victim to a cool place with circulating air, lay them flat and keep them still. Try any possible means to cool down his/her body temperature, including removing unnecessary, restrictive clothing. You can also apply ice or cool packs under their armpits, on the groins or at the back of the neck to reduce heat. If the person is awake, you can sit them up and provide cool fluid for them to drink. If the person starts to vomit, turn them sideways to ensure that their airway remains clear to avoid choking.
Tips to stay cool
Prevention is better than cure. All heat-related illnesses are avoidable, and below is a list of useful, precautionary measures you should know before things get out of hand.
Stay indoors
When you’ve just arrived at a hot area, it’s best to avoid going out, so that your body has time to get used to the local temperature. If this is not possible, keep your activity level low, or go out early or late in the day. Avoid going out between noon and 3:00pm, as this is usually the period with the most insolation.
Protect your skin
You should wear sunscreens of at least 30 SPF to avoid getting sunburnt. Choose light-weight, light-colored, and loose garments, or those made with materials like cotton and linen, as they tend to be more breathable and sweat-absorbent.
Take good care of others
Certain individuals have higher risk of developing heat-related illnesses, such as the elderly, infants and young children, the obese, the pregnant, outdoor workers, and those with chronic medical conditions. Check on people in these categories regularly to make sure they don’t have any symptoms.
Drink lots of water
The rule of thumb is to drink lots and lots of water regardless of your activity level. We cannot stress enough the importance of staying hydrated when it comes to staying cool, or simply for one’s health in general. Do not wait until you feel parched to consumer water, as a feeling of thirst may not be able to timely indicate how dehydrated a person is. Consuming water-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables, can also help.
Get yourself comprehensive insurance protection
While medical insurance can’t prevent you from developing heat-related illnesses, it can make a world of difference when it comes to medical treatment. Contact one of our specialists at Pacific Prime Dubai today to know more about our insurance policies, and get a free quote and plan comparison!
His expertise encompasses a broad range of areas including international health insurance, employee benefits solutions, motor insurance, life insurance, and various other forms of general insurance. This breadth of knowledge enables him to distill an array of complex insurance concepts into a series of progressive, easily understandable articles.
Anthony earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lingnan University, majoring in Translation and minoring in English. He also studied at West Virginia University in the United States as an exchange student.
When he’s not working, Anthony can typically be found on the badminton court, in the gym, or at the cinema.
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