Heat stroke in UAE caused by multiple factors
Low incidence of heat-related illnesses in the UAE
Dubai: The incidence of heat-related illnesses in the UAE, where temperatures soar above 50 degrees Celsius in summer, are comparatively lower than countries experiencing a heatwave at 41 degrees Celsius or lower, said emergency medicine doctors.
There are multiple factors for the low incidence they said, including the predominantly indoor lifestyle with air-conditioning, gradual temperature changes that give the body time to acclimatise, and increased measures such as mid-day breaks to protect outdoor workers in the summer.
Dr Zaid Al Sadi, emergency physician at Medcare Hospital, Dubai, told Gulf News that multiple factors are responsible for deaths during a heatwave. These include, “ageing population, over populated areas, sudden temperature changes with high humidity, and presence of co-morbidities like diabetes or cardiovascular conditions. Dehydration, a trigger for heat illness, is worsened in the absence of cooling devices like fans and air-conditioning,” he said.
Speaking to Gulf News, Dr Gulam Naroo, a specialist in emergency Medicine at Rashid Hospital said: “Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, clammy skin, nausea and weakness whereas symptoms of heat stroke include rising body temperature above 39.4 Celsius, rapid and strong pulse, weakness in any part of the body, and unconsciousness.”
There’s no respite from the sweltering UAE heat yet. The temperature inland on Thursday will be between 46 to 47 degrees Celsius and between 37C to 41C in coastal areas, according to a weather forecaster at the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology.
Forecasters said relative humidity will increase at night with a maximum of 70 to 95 per cent along coastal areas.
