Health risks and disease prevention during heatwaves
Abnormal heat is the cause of many summer diseases threatening human life.
Effects of high temperatures and how to avoid heatstroke
Prolonged heat directly impacts the human body. When the environmental temperature is too high, the body must increase sweating to regulate its temperature. If significant water loss occurs without timely replenishment, people easily fall into a state of exhaustion, heatstroke, or heat exhaustion. Groups such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and people with chronic diseases are often at higher risk of severe impact. Many cases require emergency hospitalization due to stroke, low blood pressure, and electrolyte imbalance during intense heat days.
One of the most common illnesses during the hot season is heatstroke and sunstroke. People suffering from heatstroke often show symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, high fever, red skin, and rapid heartbeat. If not handled promptly, it can be life-threatening. To prevent this, it is necessary to limit direct exposure to sunlight between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. When working outdoors, wear wide-brimmed hats, light-colored clothing, protective glasses, and take periodic breaks in cool, airy places.
Food hygiene and summer disease prevention
The hot season is also a time when digestive diseases increase sharply. High temperatures cause food to spoil easily and bacteria to grow faster. Unhygienic eating habits and using food left out in the heat for long periods easily lead to food poisoning, acute diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, and many other intestinal diseases. To prevent disease, people need to practice eating cooked food and drinking boiled water, store food properly, and not use food that shows signs of spoilage. Food stalls and restaurants also need to ensure food safety and hygiene, avoiding leaving food exposed to high temperatures for long periods.
Additionally, hot weather interspersed with abnormal rain creates 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, the number of dengue fever cases in many localities has often increased rapidly during the summer. This is a dangerous disease that can cause severe complications if not treated promptly. Therefore, each family needs to regularly clean their living environment, remove stagnant water containers, sleep under mosquito nets, and use mosquito control measures to effectively prevent disease.
Prolonged heat also affects the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Large temperature differences between the outdoor environment and air-conditioned rooms can easily cause heat shock, leading to sore throats, bronchitis, or respiratory diseases. People with a history of hypertension or cardiovascular disease need to be even more cautious as high temperatures cause the heart to work harder. Doctors recommend not setting the air conditioner at too low a temperature; it should only be about 6–8 degrees Celsius lower than the outside temperature to avoid adverse health effects.
Replenishing water, nutrition, and rest
To proactively prevent illness during the hot season, replenishing enough water for the body is extremely important. Each person needs to drink 2 to 3 liters of water per day, even when not feeling thirsty. You can also use fruit juice, oresol, or mineral-supplemented drinks to replace electrolytes. However, limit alcoholic beverages, carbonated soft drinks, and stimulants as they can cause the body to dehydrate faster.
A proper nutritional diet also contributes to improving resistance during the summer. You should eat plenty of green vegetables and fresh fruits containing vitamin C and minerals to help the body cool down and strengthen immunity. Meals should be light and easy to digest, limiting greasy and spicy foods. Getting enough rest, sleeping on time, and light exercise also help the body adapt better to harsh weather conditions.
Health protection in schools and labor
Besides individual awareness, the role of authorities in summer disease prevention is also very important. The health sector needs to strengthen the dissemination of summer healthcare knowledge and guide people to recognize dangerous signs for timely handling. Hospitals and medical facilities must prepare adequate medicines and emergency equipment, especially in intensive care and infectious disease departments during peak heat periods.
The education sector also needs to pay attention to protecting student health by adjusting school hours and limiting outdoor activities when temperatures are too high. For workers in hot environments such as construction workers, environmental sanitation workers, or farmers, it is necessary to arrange reasonable working times, avoid continuous work under intense sun, and ensure sufficient drinking water and labor protection gear.
Under increasingly evident climate change conditions, abnormal heat may persist and appear with greater intensity. Therefore, raising community awareness about healthcare and disease prevention is essential. Each person needs to proactively equip themselves with knowledge and change lifestyle habits appropriate to weather conditions to protect themselves and their families.
Proactively preventing diseases during abnormal heatwaves not only helps minimize the risk of illness but also contributes to building a healthy and safe community against climate fluctuations. When everyone is conscious of healthcare and implements effective preventive measures, the negative impacts of heat will be limited, helping life become more stable and sustainable./.