Health risks and disease prevention during hot weather
Abnormal heat is the cause of many summer diseases that threaten human life
The effects of high temperatures and how to avoid heatstroke
Prolonged heat directly impacts the human body. When ambient temperatures are too high, the body must sweat more to regulate its temperature. If significant fluid loss is not replenished in time, people easily fall into states of exhaustion, sunstroke, or heat stroke. Groups such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women, outdoor laborers, and individuals with chronic diseases are often at higher risk of severe effects. Many emergency hospitalizations occur due to strokes, low blood pressure, and electrolyte disturbances during scorching hot days.
One of the most common conditions during hot weather is heatstroke and heat exhaustion. People suffering from heatstroke often experience headaches, dizziness, nausea, high fever, flushed skin, and a rapid heartbeat. If not treated promptly, it can be life-threatening. To prevent it, limit direct sun exposure between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. When working outdoors, wear a wide-brimmed hat, light-colored clothing, protective glasses, and take regular breaks in cool, shaded areas.
Food hygiene and summer disease prevention
The hot season is also a time when gastrointestinal diseases increase significantly. High temperatures cause food to spoil easily and bacteria to multiply faster. Unhygienic eating habits and consuming food left out in the heat for a long time can easily lead to food poisoning, acute diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, and many other intestinal diseases. To prevent illness, people should eat cooked food, drink boiled water, store food properly, and avoid consuming food that shows signs of spoilage. Food stalls and eateries also need to ensure food safety and hygiene, avoiding keeping food exposed to high temperatures for extended periods.
Additionally, hot weather alternating with erratic rains creates favorable conditions for mosquitoes and insects to breed, increasing the risk of infectious diseases such as dengue fever, hand, foot, and mouth disease, or viral encephalitis. In recent years, dengue fever cases in many localities have often surged rapidly during summer. This is a dangerous disease that can cause severe complications if not treated promptly. Therefore, each household needs to regularly clean their living environment, eliminate stagnant water containers, sleep under mosquito nets, and use mosquito control measures for effective prevention.
Prolonged heat also affects the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Excessive temperature differences between outdoors and air-conditioned rooms can easily cause heat shock, leading to sore throats, bronchitis, or other respiratory illnesses. People with a history of hypertension or cardiovascular diseases need to be even more cautious because high temperatures force the heart to work harder. Doctors recommend not setting the air conditioner too low, maintaining only a 6–8°C difference compared to the outside temperature to avoid adverse health effects.
Replenish fluids, nutrition, and rest
Staying adequately hydrated is essential for proactively preventing illness during the hot season. Everyone needs to drink 2 to 3 liters of water each day, even before feeling thirsty. Fruit juice, oral rehydration solution or mineral-enriched drinks can also be used to replenish electrolytes. However, alcohol, carbonated soft drinks and stimulants should be limited, as they can cause the body to lose water more quickly.
A proper diet also helps enhance immunity during the summer. You should eat plenty of green vegetables and fresh fruits rich in vitamin C and minerals to cool the body and strengthen immunity. Meals should be light, easy to digest, and low in greasy and spicy foods. Getting adequate rest, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, and engaging in gentle exercise also help the body better adapt to harsh weather conditions.
Health protection in schools and workplaces
Alongside individual awareness, the role of relevant authorities in preventing hot-weather illnesses is equally crucial. The healthcare sector needs to step up public health education for the summer, guiding people on how to recognize warning signs for timely handling. Hospitals and medical facilities must ensure an adequate supply of medicines and emergency equipment, especially in intensive care and infectious disease departments during peak hot spells.
The education sector should also pay attention to safeguarding students' health by adjusting class schedules and restricting outdoor activities during extreme heat. For outdoor laborers such as construction workers, sanitation workers, or farmers, work hours should be reasonably scheduled to avoid continuous labor under scorching sun, ensuring sufficient drinking water and protective gear.
Under increasingly evident climate change conditions, abnormal heatwaves may last longer and occur with greater intensity. Therefore, raising public awareness of healthcare and disease prevention is extremely essential. Everyone needs to proactively equip themselves with knowledge and adapt daily living habits to the weather conditions to protect themselves and their families.
Proactively preventing diseases during unusually hot weather not only helps minimize the risk of illness but also contributes to building a healthy, safe community amid climate variations. When everyone is conscious of taking care of their health and implements effective preventive measures, the negative impacts of hot weather will be mitigated, making life more stable and sustainable./.