HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES

ITS ADAPTIVE STRATEGIES IN HEALTHY YOUNG MEDICAL STUDENTS

Abstract

Objective: To study the adaptive strategies from harmful effect of heat wave
on an urban, educated, well to do subjects for a period of May to July 2014.Data Source:
250 selected young students of RIHS. Design of Study: Descriptive Study. Setting: Rawal
Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad. Period: March – July 2014. Method: A questionnaire
was circulated among the students of Rawal Institute of Health Sciences Islamabad regarding
effects of heat and measures taken to combat its effects. Results: A total of 250 urban students
with mean age of 19.77±1.10 years were inducted in the study, having resources to face the
extreme heat. A significant number of female non boarder students (p=0.000), wearing cotton
clothes (p=0.000) having fair skin (p=0.000) and using air condition at homes (p=0.000) were
not acclimatized to heat waves still have headache and anxiety. A great percent of students did
not complaint of headache, heat exhaustion, heat cramp or syncope, except mild sweating,
effect on studies. A great percentage (>65%) of students complained of malaise, nausea
vomiting. Male students showed increase thirst than female, while anxiety state was noticed
more in female than male students. Conclusion: The use of cotton clothing, daily bathing,
increased water intake and use of air conditioner minimized the severe adverse effects like
heat exhaustion, heat syncope, and heat stroke, although the minor effects like skin tanning,
disturbed sleep, anxiety and adverse effects on studies cannot be avoided in heat wave season.