Dubai: With temperatures and humidity hitting new highs this week, doctors have warned the public against falling prey to a spate of diseases ranging from dry eyes and dehydration to heat exhaustion and heat strokes.
Dr Abdulla Naqi, consultant ophthalmologist and head of ophthalmology at Dubai Hospital, told XPRESS one in three people consulting eye doctors in the UAE during summer typically suffer from dry eyes. “This is a condition when a person’s tears cannot provide adequate lubrication for the eyes. Symptoms include gritty or burning eyes, itching, drowsiness by the end of the day and disturbance in vision in some cases.”
He said dry eyes are common among those who are overly exposed to air conditioners as humidity levels get condensed and the indoor space becomes dry. “Typical examples are an air-conditioned office room or car where the person, who remains concentrated on the computer or the road, exposes himself to the dry air blowing within that space.”
Blink more often
To prevent a dry eye, one must remember to blink more often – “the number of blinks can come down from 12 to four per second when one is busy on the computer” – take breaks, look into the distance to relax the eye and take care not to get exposed to direct air currents from ACs. “Using supplementary artificial tear drops and having foods with supplements also helps. ”
He said overexposure to smartphones, tablets and television can also cause dry eyes among kids, so the time spent on these devices must be reduced.
Dr Naqi said people should take due care not to expose their eyes to direct sunlight. “The sun is perpendicular to us during this time. So you must use sunglasses when you are outdoors, whether you are walking or driving. The glasses should have adequate UV protection, say at least 50 per cent.”
Heat strokes
Earlier, doctors advised residents, especially the elderly and children, to take due care against heat stroke and exhaustion.
Dr Fadi Moborrak, Senior Specialties, ER, at Dubai Hos-pital, said symptoms of heat exhaustion include thirst, fatigue, headache and twitching. “If the case worsens, it can lead to heat strokes, its symptoms including a fever of 40 degrees Celsius and higher, headache, rapid breathing, altered mental behaviour and ultimately fainting.”
Dr Moborrak explained that being exposed directly to the sun is not the only cause of heat strokes as even otherwise, heat and humidity, which can cause a green glass effect, can also lead to heat exhaustion and behaviour.
Dr Sara Kazim, consultant emergency physician at Rashid Hospital, said a person loses two litres of water by sweating every 24 hours, and when a person suffers from heat exhaustion, this figure can go up to 10 litres.
The doctors warned people against wearing heavy clothes while exercising in a bid to lose weight faster as it can cause health problems. To avoid heat strokes, they said sports and outdoor activities should not be between 9am and 6pm. Dr Kazim said people should drink lots of fluids and juices. Because heat-related illness can result from salt depletion, it may be advisable to substitute an electrolyte-rich drink for water during periods of extreme heat.
Residents have also been advised to take basic precautions like using umbrellas and hats if they can’t avoid being outdoors.
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