People who will be fasting from today have been advised by experts to take precautions to avoid falling victim to heat stress and heat strokes as Ramadan coincides with the peak summer season this year, and the fasting hours will be more than 15 hours.
Doctors have advised people to take a lot of liquids after they break the fast in the evening and until dawn when fasting begins and avoid exposure to the sun.
Heat exhaustion is part of the spectrum of illnesses that include heat cramps, heat stress and heat stroke.
“There is a risk of people getting heat strokes,” Senior Consultant, Emergency Department at Hamad Medical Corporation, Dr Saad Abdulfattah Al Nuaimi told The Peninsula yesterday.
Tiredness, body aches, irritability, disorientation, dizziness, and fainting are the symptoms of heat stress which can lead to seizure attacks called heat strokes that can be fatal,” he said.
The most important measures to prevent heat exhaustions are to avoid becoming dehydrated and to avoid vigorous physical activities in the hot and humid weather.
Physical activity in hot weather can overwhelm the body’s ability to cool itself, causing heat related symptoms. The treatment for heat cramps includes recognising the symptoms as muscle pain and tiredness, stopping the activity, and moving in doors, taking plenty of liquid and rest.
“People who want to fast should take plenty of water and liquids during the non fasting hours between iftar and suhoor. They must also avoid exposing to hot weather as much as possible,” said Dr Al Nuaimi.
“Those who want to exercise could do it in doors and after the dawn,” he added.
He also advised that people who go out during the day time should have a protection like an umbrella and use a sun screen cream half an hour before leaving.
Besides, last year the Emergency Department at the HMC received six cases on the first day of Ramadan.
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