S Punjab hospitals on heatstroke alert

Elderly, kids, heart, kidney patients advised caution

LAHORE:

Cases of heatstroke reported in the emergency wards of the government are on the rise across the province, especially in South Punjab.

According to doctors, patients of kidney, heart and breathing ailments are at the highest risk of suffering heatstroke during the hot weather. The said most of the patients brought to hospitals in Lahore and other areas in recent days were senior citizens and children.

The South Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department has issued an alert to the local hospitals to make maximum arrangements to treat patients of heatstroke.

On the other hand, doctors advised the people to avoid going outdoors in day time, drink maximum water and avoid eating spicy food.

The advice comes after a large number of patients were brought to hospitals in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Kasur, Faisalabad and South Punjab with symptoms of heatstroke.

According to hospital sources, most of the patients were daily wage workers and employees aged avove 50 years who have to travel and work outdoors.

Children and elderly women are also among major groups seeking treatment for the adverse effects of the severe hot weather.

The temperature in several areas of Punjab rises to up to 44 degrees with power loadshedding adding to the hardship of the citizens. The conditions are especially hazardous for patients of heart, kidney and respiratory ailments.

"In most cases, heatstroke was suffered by people at work or in markets at midday,” Mayo Hospital Emergency Department staff member Muhammad Saleem told The Express Tribune.

“We usually receive more cases of diarrhea and gastroenteritis from May to August but this year there is a higher number of heatstroke patients reporting to the emergency department,” he said.

The highest number of cases of heatstroke are being reported in South Punjab where the primary and secondary healthcare department has issued the alert to the hospitals to remain ready to provide maximum facilities to the patients.

An official of the primary and secondary healthcare department said the temperature was higher in Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Vehari and adjoining districts like the previous years and the extreme hot weather had prompted the department to issue the alert to the hospitals.

He said the hospital administrators had been advised to set up counters for heatstroke patients and provide space and facilities for them.

“It has been decided that the government will utilise all its resources to provide maximum facilities for the patients of heatstroke,” the official added.

Punjab Institute of Public Health Dean Dr Zarafshan Tahir cautioned that the hot season was dangerous for the people of all ages but the elderly and children were at the highest risk.

She advised senior citizens to stay at home on sunny days and all people to drink plenty of fluids.

Former medical superintendent of Sir Ganaga Ram Hospital Dr Abdul Basit said, "Global warming and changes in weather have created health risks for the people in the whole world. We are seeing an increase in heat in Punjab every year.”

He stressed the need for changes in lifestyle. Spicy food, walk in markets during hot weather and drinking less water are common causes of heatstroke, he pointed out and called for precautionary measures during the season.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2023.