Ahmedabad: The rising heat is showing its effects. During the past week when the mercury did not drop below 41 degrees celsius, the city recorded an average of 18 heat-related emergencies daily, EMRI 108 data shows. On Thursday, Ahmedabad's maximum temperature was 43.3 degrees celsius, 4.3 degrees above normal and the highest in Gujarat. More heat is in store, says a Met office forecast, which could mean higher risk of heat-related ailments. EMRI figures for last week were nearly double from that of the preceding week. While high fever accounted for more than 90% of the total cases, other emergencies included vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, fainting, and severe abdominal pain. The city accounted for one out of every six heat-related emergencies EMRI services handled across Gujarat in the past week.
Clinics and hospitals too recorded a sharp spike in the number of patients with heat-related illnesses. Dr Maharshi Desai, an internal medicine specialist at Apollo Hospital, said that patients came to OPDs with skin rashes, complaints of severe headache or muscular pain, fever, and upset stomach.
"Prolonged exposure to heat affects our body in multiple ways – from headache to muscle cramps. One of the suggestions we give to patients is to avoid sudden changes in temperature, such as going from 24 degrees celsius of an air-conditioned room to 43 degrees outdoors. Blood vessels have to expand suddenly when the body is exposed to heat, and thus a person may feel dizzy or disoriented," he said.
Dr R C Damani, a physician with KD Hospital, said that the facility recorded a high number of OPD patients with symptoms caused by high ambient temperatures. "One must remain hydrated and avoid direct sun exposure, especially during afternoon hours," he cautioned. Gandhinagar baked at 43.2 degrees, while Surendranagar and Rajkot were at 43 degrees. India Meteorological Department's forecast indicates chances of the mercury dropping by 2-4 degrees over the next three days.