PAGADIAN CITY (PIA) – The Department of Health (DOH) Zamboanga Peninsula-Center for Health Development calls on the public to prioritize their health during the hot, dry season. 

Regional Director Dr. Joshua Brillantes advised residents of Zamboanga Peninsula to, however, avoid sugary drinks. 

He stated that water makes up 70 percent of the body mass, so there is a need to stay hydrated and drink clean water. He emphasized the importance of avoiding iced tea, soda, coffee, and alcoholic drinks.

Brillantes said that consuming excessive sugar can increase certain health risks due to the combined effects of high sugar intake and heat, including dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. 

Moreover, he recommends limiting outdoor activities, especially from 10 o'clock in the morning up to 4 o'clock in the afternoon, because this is the time when the heat from the sunlight is intense. He also suggests using an umbrella, sunblock, or caps when one is exposed directly to sunlight. 

Brillantes stated that the DOH has not received any reports from hospitals in the region regarding health issues associated with the high heat index being experienced in Zamboanga Peninsula.

However, he emphasized that it is important to know the signs and symptoms of a person’s health risk when exposed to direct heat.

Muscle pain or cramping, known as heat cramps, often occurs in the legs or abdomen, particularly following sweating. This happens because of an electrolyte imbalance. Symptoms experienced include muscle cramps, fatigue, laziness, dizziness, headache, and vomiting. 

Heat exhaustion is extreme fatigue caused by high temperatures and often occurs, especially with prolonged exposure to direct heat and inadequate drinking of water leading to dehydration. The symptoms include fatigue, weakness, headache, and vomiting. The most severe condition is heat stroke, which is dangerous because it involves loss of consciousness or, in common terms, fainting and confusion, indicating more severe symptoms. Heart attacks can also be experienced during a heat stroke. 

DOH said Filipinos should be conscious of hygiene and body odor during the El Niño period, when water is scarce. This lack of water also means children may not bathe as often, leading to an increased risk of diseases. Therefore, DOH is also monitoring cases of diarrhea, food poisoning, upper respiratory infections, and skin diseases, especially during this time of water scarcity.

“Let’s not wait for this (sickness) to happen,” Dr. Brillantes emphasized as he urged everyone to take the necessary steps to stay healthy during the hot seasons. (NBE/EDT/CCP/PIA9)