New Delhi: As the mercury continues to rise in the national capital, hospitals in Delhi-NCR are witnessing a rush of patients complaining of heat stroke and heat exhaustion, with doctors advising elderly and immunocompromised patients to avoid venturing out. .
Last month, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj had announced that Delhi government-run hospitals would reserve two beds each for heatstroke patients, while LNJP Hospital would reserve five beds.
Dr Ritu Saxena, Deputy Medical Superintendent of LNJP Hospital, said, "We have eight to 10 patients coming every day. There are also serious patients who need to be admitted to the ICU. Yesterday, we got two patients who are admitted to the hospital. And before that we had four patients."Admitted to ICU.
"The patients who are developing severe disease are elderly or have co-morbidities like hypertension, diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD). We are also getting some patients from other hospitals like Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital and Satyawadi Raja Harishchandra Hospital. "See you," she said.
The senior doctor said that this increase was in proportion to the intensification of the heat wave condition.
CK Birla Hospital in Gurugram is seeing one to two patients every day in its OPD with heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat rashes, although they have not treated any heat stroke patients.According to Dr Tushar Tayal, consultant internal medicine, CK Birla Hospital, elderly patients with previous co-morbidities like diabetes and heart disease and youngsters involved in excessive physical activity are more likely to suffer from heat exhaustion.
"The most commonly seen symptoms in heat exhaustion are low-grade fever, excessive sweating, fast and pounding pulse, headache, dizziness and lightheadedness, muscle weakness or cramps, nausea and vomiting and rashes," he said.
Heat exhaustion patients take one to two days to fully recover and treatment is primarily symptomatic through IV fluids, anti-emetics, and cooling the body. He said, cases of heat exhaustion have increased in the last one and a half month.
Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj is witnessing a significant increase in patients seeking both Out Patient Department (OPD) consultation and admission on a daily basis.Dr Mugdha Tapadia, additional director of internal medicine at the medical facility, said, usually, they are seeing around eight to ten patients through OPD visits and admitting around two to three persons per day.
Talking about the major symptoms reported by patients, he said they come with symptoms of extreme weakness, severe dehydration, dizziness and in severe cases, loss of consciousness and high-grade fever.
"Many people's body temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius, which is indicative of heat stroke. We have observed that individuals aged 55 years and above are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses, primarily "Due to underlying health conditions and reduced ability to regulate body temperature effectively," she said.
Dr M Wali, senior consultant, internal medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said the unprecedented heat causes heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat hyperpyrexia."Elderly people suffering from lung disease, heart disease and high blood pressure are at greater risk. They should not step out of their homes and continue their treatment. This time, the summer conditions are unusual. We are hoping that next year "Will be more serious." He said.Tayal advised people to drink at least 2 to 2.5 liters of water or fluids daily and reduce alcohol consumption as it can lead to dehydration.
He also suggested that people reduce the consumption of tea and coffee as it dehydrates the body.
"Additionally, minor changes in daily routine also help, such as exercising during cooler, less humid times of the day; including coconut water, buttermilk and seasonal fruits like watermelon, papaya, mango, citrus fruits and salads in our diet. During this time, one should wear light colored cotton clothes and stay indoors during peak summer hours (10 am to 4 pm) and avoid exposure to the sun."
Delhi is in the grip of extreme heat and the mercury reached 45.2 degrees Celsius on Monday, which is 6.4 degrees above normal.
Last month, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj had announced that Delhi government-run hospitals would reserve two beds each for heatstroke patients, while LNJP Hospital would reserve five beds.
Dr Ritu Saxena, Deputy Medical Superintendent of LNJP Hospital, said, "We have eight to 10 patients coming every day. There are also serious patients who need to be admitted to the ICU. Yesterday, we got two patients who are admitted to the hospital. And before that we had four patients."Admitted to ICU.
"The patients who are developing severe disease are elderly or have co-morbidities like hypertension, diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD). We are also getting some patients from other hospitals like Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital and Satyawadi Raja Harishchandra Hospital. "See you," she said.
The senior doctor said that this increase was in proportion to the intensification of the heat wave condition.
CK Birla Hospital in Gurugram is seeing one to two patients every day in its OPD with heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heat rashes, although they have not treated any heat stroke patients.According to Dr Tushar Tayal, consultant internal medicine, CK Birla Hospital, elderly patients with previous co-morbidities like diabetes and heart disease and youngsters involved in excessive physical activity are more likely to suffer from heat exhaustion.
"The most commonly seen symptoms in heat exhaustion are low-grade fever, excessive sweating, fast and pounding pulse, headache, dizziness and lightheadedness, muscle weakness or cramps, nausea and vomiting and rashes," he said.
Heat exhaustion patients take one to two days to fully recover and treatment is primarily symptomatic through IV fluids, anti-emetics, and cooling the body. He said, cases of heat exhaustion have increased in the last one and a half month.
Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj is witnessing a significant increase in patients seeking both Out Patient Department (OPD) consultation and admission on a daily basis.Dr Mugdha Tapadia, additional director of internal medicine at the medical facility, said, usually, they are seeing around eight to ten patients through OPD visits and admitting around two to three persons per day.
Talking about the major symptoms reported by patients, he said they come with symptoms of extreme weakness, severe dehydration, dizziness and in severe cases, loss of consciousness and high-grade fever.
"Many people's body temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius, which is indicative of heat stroke. We have observed that individuals aged 55 years and above are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses, primarily "Due to underlying health conditions and reduced ability to regulate body temperature effectively," she said.
Dr M Wali, senior consultant, internal medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said the unprecedented heat causes heat stroke, heat exhaustion and heat hyperpyrexia."Elderly people suffering from lung disease, heart disease and high blood pressure are at greater risk. They should not step out of their homes and continue their treatment. This time, the summer conditions are unusual. We are hoping that next year "Will be more serious." He said.Tayal advised people to drink at least 2 to 2.5 liters of water or fluids daily and reduce alcohol consumption as it can lead to dehydration.
He also suggested that people reduce the consumption of tea and coffee as it dehydrates the body.
"Additionally, minor changes in daily routine also help, such as exercising during cooler, less humid times of the day; including coconut water, buttermilk and seasonal fruits like watermelon, papaya, mango, citrus fruits and salads in our diet. During this time, one should wear light colored cotton clothes and stay indoors during peak summer hours (10 am to 4 pm) and avoid exposure to the sun."
Delhi is in the grip of extreme heat and the mercury reached 45.2 degrees Celsius on Monday, which is 6.4 degrees above normal.
