Effect of heat on health and body : Underwear solution to heatstroke
HEAT stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body can no longer control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the sweating mechanism fails, and the body is unable to cool down. When heat stroke occurs, the body temperature can rise to 40 degrees or higher within 10 to 15 minutes.
Symptoms
Symptoms of heat stroke include:
Confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech
Loss of consciousness (coma)
Hot, dry skin or profuse sweating
Seizures
Very high body temperature
Fatal if treatment delayed.
First Aid
Take the following steps to treat a worker with heat stroke:
Call for emergency medical care.
Stay with the worker until emergency medical services arrive.
Move the worker to a shaded, cool area and remove outer clothing.
Cool the worker quickly, using the following methods:
With a cold water or ice bath, if possible
Wet the skin
Place cold wet cloths on the skin
Soak clothing with cool water
Circulate the air around the worker to speed cooling.
Place cold wet cloths or ice on the head, neck, armpits, and groin; or soak the clothing with cool water.
Heat Cramps
Heat cramps usually affect workers who sweat a lot during strenuous activity. This sweating depletes the body’s salt and moisture levels. Low salt levels in muscles cause painful cramps. Heat cramps may also be a symptom of heat exhaustion.
Symptoms
Muscle cramps, pain, or spasms in the abdomen, arms, or legs
First Aid
Workers with heat cramps should do the following:
Drink water and have a snack or a drink that replaces carbohydrates and electrolytes (such as sports drinks) every 15 to 20 minutes.
Avoid salt tablets.
Get medical help if the worker:
Has heart problems.
Is on a low sodium diet.
Has cramps that do not subside within 1 hour.
Going “commando” or not wearing underwear Filipino women amid the extreme heat is indecent, said a former president of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP).
Dr. Anthony Leachon, also a former Department of Health consultant, stressed “it’s not universally accepted as a public health measure.”
“How about the men?” asked Leachon, also a health reform advocate.
Leachon cited other reasons against not wearing underwear during hot season.
1. The cause of heatstroke is dehydration thus this should be the centrality of focus and not the removal of underwears.
2. It’s not hygienic. It’s not decent.
3. It’s not universally accepted as public health measure
4. People need serious answers because we have serious issues eg UHC , pertussis , NCDs ; we need focus.
5. It’s a low point in our health debates.
What’s happening to our country!?
Is this our answer to the existential threat of global warming!
The health reform advocate pointed out that people need serious answers amid the intense heat Filipinos are experiencing.
He said the proposal to skip wearing panties when women stay at home or go to sleep is “a low point in health debates.”
“How elegant naman this topic,” taunted Leachon. “What’s happening to our country? Is this our answer to the existential threat of global warming?”
Former Health Secretary Janette Garin on Tuesday advised women, especially if they are just staying at home, to just go commando.
“No malice. But if you are just at home and sleeping, and it is terribly hot, it’s quite advisable not to wear underwear if you are wearing pajamas or shorts,” said Garin, a physician , ex DOH chief and House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo representative.
“The ventilation will be effective against fungal infection,” she added.
But read this …
DOH Sec. Ted Herbosa, however, has another recommendation for those who are uncomfortable with not wearing underwear even at home.
“Ang usual advice for women suffering from candidiasis is really to wear cotton underwear. It’s an option kung ayaw niyong mag-commando, mag-cotton underwear because it also does not trap moisture. Siguro ‘yung pawis — moisture kasi allows for fungal infection to proliferate. May basis ‘yun,” he explained.
(The usual advice for women suffering from candidiasis is really to wear cotton underwear. It’s an option if you don’t want to go commando; wear cotton underwear because it also doesn’t trap moisture. Maybe the sweat — because moisture allows for fungal infection to proliferate. There is a basis for that.)
The low level of debates on health and the non adherence to scientific basis have confused the public. What has removal of underwear got to do with lower body temperature ?
To quote :
“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” —the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Anthony C. Leachon, M. D.
Independent Health Reform Advocate
Past President ,
Philippine College of Physicians
Department of Internal Medicine
Manila Doctors Hospital
