LINGAYEN— With no sign of the heat abating in the weeks ahead, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) has warned against heat stroke which can be fatal.

PHO head Dr. Anna De Guzman said her office is watching out for reports of residents suffering from heat stroke due to the increasing temperature brought about by the summer season, aggravated by the El Niño phenomenon.

So far, no cases of heat stroke have been reported.

“We are advising the public to avoid direct sunlight exposure from 10 am to 3pm,” she said, adding that hats and umbrellas should be used at all times if the need to stay outdoors cannot be avoided.

She also advised people to stay hydrated by drinking at least ten glasses of water daily and avoid coffee, tea, soda, and alcohol.

Athletes whose perspiration is excessive are recommended to drink ionized water to refill their electrolytes.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency where the body overheats and cannot cool down because the body cannot take off the excessive heat by sweating because of dehydration and/or humid environment.

Signs of heat exhaustion may include warm and flushed skin, faintness, dizziness, weakness, headache, very high fever, rapid heartbeat, convulsion, and unconsciousness.

During summer, many also suffer from hypertension because of eating habits and lifestyle, she said as she pointed out that more young people are suffering from it.

At the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital, at least 400 in-patient cases are suffering from hypertension.

Aside from heat stroke and hypertension said PHO is on alert for sunburns, sore eyes, jellyfish sting, skin diseases such as ringworm and athlete’s foot, chicken pox, malaria, dengue, viral infection such as cough, gastrointestinal infection and rabies because in this hot weather condition. Dogs also become hot-tempered and fierce. (Johanne Macob/Leonardo Micua)

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