The rainy season is here but the weather bureau is strictly monitoring the country’s potential to transition to the El Niño phenomenon.
Why should everyone, including Gen Zs, be concerned?
Last May, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said there will be intermittent breaks in rainfall events as the likelihood of the El Nino phenomenon increases.
El Niño is characterized by below normal rainfall conditions. It could bring dry spells and drought that could potentially have an impact on health and farm produce.
In past briefings, PAGASA said El Niño would likely develop in mid 2023 and may persist until the following year.
This affects practically everyone, especially those whose line of work is spent mostly under the stifling heat of the sun.
Aside from the economic impact of the El Niño cycle, another pressing concern are health hazards parallel to extreme weather conditions which could go from mild to fatal.
Despite the dangers of prolonged sun exposure, there are people who have to endure the heat just to sustain their means of survival.
This is the concern of Bulacan farmer Ben Dela Cruz, 20. At the moment, people in their community are already seeing the economical impact of El Niño on their produce and well being.
He often suffers from coughs and colds caused by scorching heat whenever they would endure too much sun exposure especially in the fields.
Pineapple farmer Ronald Agoho,17, reels from the same concern. When the heat gets stifling, Agoho suffers from dizziness and experiences chest pains.
Risk factors
Internal Medicine Specialist Alyssa Isabelle Ercia-Velasco said it is crucial to identify the risk factors that could lead to heat-related illness.
Heat-related illnesses basically result from the disruption of the body’s thermoregulation process upon exposure to high environmental heat.
Internist and Adult Cardiologist Alena Pias Bantolo meanwhile said that heat has also been proven to aggravate or complicate the conditions of people with pre-existing comorbidities.
Bantolo further noted that for patients with maintenance medicines, the actual medications itself could aggravate their health once exposed to extremely hot environments.
There are no hard and fast rules as to the level of heat-exposure that a person could tolerate. Every patient has an individual threshold of enduring heat.
Because temperatures are expected to be much higher in the coming months due to El Niño, the likelihood of heat-related illnesses also increases. Here are some of the most common heat-related illnesses to watch out for during the hot season especially at the onset of the El Niño.
- Heat cramps
Heat cramps are basically the mildest form of heat illness. These are painful muscle cramps and spasms that manifest during or after an intense exercise or sweating in a hot environment.
These usually involve muscles that are heavily fatigued by heavy work, such as calves, thighs, and shoulders.
Bantolo said heat cramps are treated by simply taking the patient away from the trigger which is the heat of the sun or the hot environment.
- Heat rash
Sometimes called prickly heat or sweat rash, heat rash is daily harmless but causes very uncomfortable skin rash. It is usually characterized by red spots in places where sweat accumulates like the armpits, back, under the breasts, chest, groin, elbow creases and back of the knees, and the waist.
Velasco said applying cool towels on top of the heat rash would be enough to relax and heal the skin.
- Heat Exhaustion
Heat exhaustion meanwhile is the body’s response to excessive loss of water and salt usually through excessive sweating. This usually affects the elderly, people with high blood pressure and those working in hot environments.
Its usual symptoms include headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, heavy sweating, elevated body temperature and decreased urine output.
Last March, the Department of Health (DOH) logged cases of heat exhaustion in students caused by the extreme summer heat in March.
Just like with heat cramps, the first aid in heat exhaustion cases is basically taking the patient out of the direct sun heat, transferring it to a cool shady place and rehydration.
Changing to comfortable clothes will also be helpful to allow ventilation.
Velasco noted that stroke patients have a golden period of six months to one year to recover. Whatever physical achievement gained throughout that time would most likely be the patient’s permanent functionality. This is why doctors, she said, usually advise patients to be persistent in their recovery so they would have a higher chance of getting back to normal after a stroke event.
- Heat Stroke
Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. When the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails and the body cannot cool itself.
This can occur when the body rises to about 104 F (40 C) or higher within a matter of minutes. Unlike other heat-related illnesses that only need cooling and refreshment, heat stroke is an emergency situation that requires immediate hospital intervention as it can quickly damage the brain, heart, kidneys and muscles.
Furthermore, the damage worsens as treatment gets delayed increasing the risk for more serious complications or even death.
At worst, heat stroke could in fact cause instantaneous death.
Although the cases of heat stroke are likely to spike, Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the total number of incidents in the country could not be easily recorded. In a press briefing, Vergeire said the number of stroke patients are simply aggregated into one data.
Why should the Gen Zs be concerned?
Knowledge on how to protect yourself from extreme heat could save lives. This is why Bantolo said the topic should concern everyone including the Gen Zs.
The extreme weather conditions knows no age, and it could affect their loved ones, too.
“Dapat alam nila pano marecognize kasi hindi man mangyari sa kanila pwede naman mangyari sa pamilya nila,” she added.
Velasco also stressed the importance of having this kind of mindset not only for their loved ones but also even to themselves.
Although heat-related illness can have very severe effects at its worst, the likelihood of those occurring can be highly prevented through very simple precautions.
Bantolo and Velasco both gave practical ways to fend off exhaustions or heat, even stroke through hydration and taking breaks from activities that are conducted under direct sun heat or extremely hot environments. They also advise wearing well-ventilated clothes, and regular monitoring of temperature, blood pressure and respiratory rate at home.
