Heat Wave Making Many SickMore are seeing doctors for problems such as
sore throats and headaches; Tan Tock Seng
Hospital also saw two cases of heat exhaustion
recentlyBy LIANG HWEE TING and ANGELINE
YONGSOARING temperatures here are sending more
people to the doctor, a Straits Times check with 10
clinics and six hospitals showed.Most are not suffering from specific heat ailments like
heat stroke or heat exhaustion, said Dr K.M. Tan, a
general practitioner.Instead, they have sore throats, caused by a lack of
bodily hydration, and headaches triggered by external
stimuli like changes in weather.About one-fifth of his patients this month have had
such heat-related complaints, he said.Ms Lim Hui Min, a 26-year-old secretary, went to
see the doctor yesterday for a severe headache
caused by her alternating between her air-conditioned
office and the sweltering heat outside.Meanwhile, two cases of heat exhaustion -- with
symptoms such as weakness, headaches and
dizziness caused by dehydration -- were reported at
Tan Tock Seng Hospital over the last two weeks and
a minor case of heat rash at Gleneagles Hospital.Hospital officials say they do not see such cases
usually.According to the Meteorological Station, May has
been warmer than usual, with the mean daily
temperature rising above the long-term average of
27.5 deg C to 30.5 deg C in mid-May.The change to relatively warmer weather conditions
came with the onset of the south-west monsoon
season, which is traditionally drier.And, as the first four months of the year were rather
wet, the warm weather which followed was an
unpleasant surprise for most.And organisations and groups traditionally associated
with the outdoors are taking extra care to prevent
heat stroke, a potentially fatal condition.The army observes strict heat management and
prevention regulations when conducting military
training, said Major (Dr) Chiam Tut Fu, head of the
Soldier Performance Centre, SAF.The SAF follows a strict hydration regime and adjusts
training according to the prevailing climatic conditions.The Basic Military Training Centre even has
designated instructors who will remove recruits from
training activities if they appear unwell.Various army medical centres islandwide, as well as
Singapore General Hospital and Changi General
Hospital, are equipped with body cooling units to
treat heat casualties.Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) said that although
it has not had any cases of heat stroke in the past few
weeks, extra precautions have been taken.Said an OBS spokesman: "We now conduct water
drinking 'parades' the night before an expedition to
ensure that participants hydrate themselves
adequately. They also carry extra water supply during
expeditions."
KEEP COOL: Protect yourself
DRINK at least eight glasses of water a day to avoid
dehydration.Eat more fruit with high water content, such as
watermelon, to replace water loss from perspiration.Cut down on caffeine and alcohol, which have
diuretic properties, meaning that they induce more
frequent urination, and thus the risk of dehydration.When exercising in the sun, take a break to slow
down and cool off.Exercising in the heat may lead to intermittent
muscle cramps, especially in the legs, because of
excessive loss of salt and water from profuse
sweating.Wear light, comfortable clothing when exercising in
hot, humid weather and avoid exposure to the sun
from 10 am to 4 pm.Apply sun block before going out, preferably one
with a sun protection factor of at least SPF20.Adapted from The Straits Times, 27 May 2000.