Summer Heat increase Medical Emergency

May 2012 - with the erratic weather changes and intense cases increased compared to earlier this year’s accident / trauma cases. Cases such as cardiovascular accidents, hypertension, heat stroke and streptococcal infections headed the medical cases encountered by the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office for the month of May. The rapid rise of such cases may be due to April’s average 34 degrees Celsius heat that posed as a distinct contributory factor in many cardiovascular and stroke cases and May’s inconsistent weather changes that gives upraise to streptococcal infections. With the prevalence of such conditions, prevention is still better than cure. Hypertension, stroke and cardiovascular accidents are lifestyle-related diseases that can be reduces through health promotive lifestyle modifications like proper diet low in cholesterol and sodium, regular exercise and early detection and management. In cases of streptococcal infections, there infections can be prevented through simple safety measures, education about airborne and droplet infections, isolation techniques and immune system strengthening through vitamin supplementation. (drie/ebsp)