Recently, there have been consecutive high temperatures and frequent strong convective weather, leading to physical problems such as heatstroke, heart discomfort, and skin itching. Miao Guobin, Director and Chief Physician of the Emergency Department of the Emergency General Hospital, reminds that when hot and humid weather strikes, one should be cautious of five types of physical discomfort and take timely protective measures to reduce health risks. 1. Key points for heatstroke prevention: If suspected symptoms appear, immediately go to a cool place to rest. In hot and humid weather, heatstroke is an unavoidable topic. According to the severity of the condition, heat stroke is usually divided into three types: premonitory heat stroke, mild heat stroke, and severe heat stroke. Patients with premonitory heatstroke may experience symptoms such as headache, dizziness, thirst, excessive sweating, weakness and soreness in the limbs, and lack of concentration. Their body temperature may also be normal or slightly elevated. Mild heatstroke patients may experience an increase in body temperature to 38.5 ℃ or above, manifested as flushing, excessive sweating, burning skin, or damp and cold limbs, pale complexion, and decreased blood pressure. Severe heat stroke can be divided into three situations. Heat spasms are often caused by excessive sweating and thirst, excessive drinking water and insufficient salt supplementation, leading to a rapid and significant decrease in the concentration of sodium chloride in the blood. When the patient's muscles suddenly experience paroxysmal spasms and pain; Heat failure often occurs in the elderly and those who are unable to adapt to high temperatures for a while. The main symptoms include dizziness, headache, thirst, nausea, vomiting, damp and cold skin, decreased blood pressure, fainting, loss of consciousness, etc. At this time, the body temperature is normal or slightly elevated; Heat stroke is the most severe form of heatstroke, in which patients are exposed to a hot environment or intense exercise, leading to an imbalance between heat production and dissipation. The main manifestations are a rapid increase in core body temperature to above 40 ℃, burning skin, and accompanied by consciousness disorders (such as delirium, convulsions, coma). There are three reasons why humid and hot weather can easily cause heatstroke. One is excessive ambient temperature: when the ambient temperature reaches or exceeds 30 ℃, especially in a windless environment, the human body absorbs too much heat from the environment, increasing the burden on the temperature regulation center; The second obstacle is heat dissipation: high humidity in the air can cause difficulty in evaporating human sweat, hindering heat dissipation. Wearing non breathable clothing, obesity, and other factors can further hinder heat dissipation; The third is sweat gland dysfunction: The human body mainly dissipates heat through the sweat glands on the skin, but when sweat gland function is damaged due to skin burns, drug effects (such as taking cetirizine), or other factors, heat accumulates in the body, increasing the risk of heatstroke. Elderly people and children, due to their relatively weak ability to regulate body temperature, are susceptible to heatstroke. Therefore, special attention should be paid to preventing heatstroke and heat stroke in summer. If you experience symptoms of heatstroke such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, etc., you should immediately rest in a cool and ventilated place and replenish fluids. If the symptoms persist or worsen, you should immediately call 120 emergency hotline and go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment. 【 Response measures 】 1. Adequate water intake. When working in high temperature and humidity environments or engaging in physical activities, it is necessary to increase the amount of water consumed or supplement electrolyte containing beverages in moderation, such as sports drinks, diluted salt water, etc. 2. Avoid going out during high temperature periods. Try to avoid going out during the high temperature period from 12:00 to 15:00. If it is necessary to go out, avoid prolonged exposure to high temperatures and pay attention to cooling. 3. When using air conditioning, don't forget to regularly ventilate the room and turn on the air conditioning to cool down. Don't forget to regularly ventilate the room to circulate fresh air. People working in high temperature and humidity environments should pay attention to regular rest and avoid prolonged exposure to such environments. 2. Key points for cardiovascular disease prevention: Control blood pressure and blood sugar to reduce the risk of attacks. From clinical experience, hot and humid weather can also easily cause cardiovascular problems, such as elevated blood pressure, accelerated heartbeat, arrhythmia, etc. Patients may exhibit chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, etc. When the cardiovascular system is under excessive pressure, it may also trigger angina or myocardial infarction. Summer cardiovascular diseases are mainly induced by the following factors. One is blood pressure fluctuations: humid and hot weather can easily cause blood vessel dilation and blood pressure drop in the human body. When a person enters a low-temperature indoor environment from a high-temperature outdoor environment, the blood vessels will quickly contract, causing a sudden increase in blood pressure. This frequent blood pressure fluctuation can cause a great burden on the cardiovascular system. Second, changes in blood sugar and blood lipid levels: high temperature and humidity environment will accelerate human metabolism and increase energy consumption. In order to maintain normal physiological functions, the human body will secrete more insulin, adrenaline and other hormones, which will lead to higher blood sugar and blood lipid levels. For patients with diabetes and hyperlipidemia, this is undoubtedly worse. The third is an increase in blood viscosity: the human body sweats more, and the loss of water and electrolytes in the body accelerates. If water is not replenished in time, the resistance of viscous blood flow in blood vessels increases, which not only increases the burden on the heart but also easily forms blood clots. The fourth is emotional fluctuations: humid and hot weather can easily cause emotional fluctuations, such as irritability, anxiety, etc. These negative emotions can activate the sympathetic nervous system, accelerate heartbeat, constrict blood vessels, and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease attacks. 【 Response Measures 】 1. The indoor and outdoor temperature difference should not be too large. In summer, try to keep the indoor environment cool, dry, and ventilated. When using cooling equipment such as air conditioning, pay attention to the indoor and outdoor temperature difference should not be too large to avoid frequent entry and exit of air-conditioned rooms, which may cause blood pressure fluctuations. 2. A low salt, low-fat, and low sugar diet follows the principles of low salt, low-fat, and low sugar. Eat more fresh vegetables, fruits, and other foods rich in dietary fiber and vitamins, and avoid greasy, spicy, and high sugar foods. At the same time, maintain sufficient water intake to help maintain stable blood pressure. 3. Regular physical examination should be carried out for high-risk groups of cardiovascular diseases such as the elderly, diabetes patients, hyperlipidemia patients, etc., to know whether the blood pressure, blood sugar, blood lipids and other indicators are well controlled. 3. Key points for skin redness, swelling, and itching protection: Pay attention to sun protection to keep the body fresh. Two types of skin inflammations are common in summer. Among them, eczema is characterized by redness, swelling, itching, and rashes on the skin. In severe cases, it is accompanied by exudation and is prone to occur in individuals with allergic constitution, long-term exposure to humid environments, or a history of eczema inheritance. However, solar dermatitis manifests as redness, swelling, burning, pain, and even blistering of the skin, which is prone to occur in people who work outdoors for long periods of time and do not pay attention to sun protection, as well as those who take photosensitive drugs. In hot weather, the human body secretes a large amount of sweat to maintain body temperature balance. If this sweat stays on the surface of the skin for a long time, it will become a breeding ground for bacteria. When sweat mixes with oil, dust, and other substances on the surface of the skin, it is easy to form dirt, which not only clogs pores but also provides abundant nutrients for bacteria, causing them to multiply in large numbers. The growth of bacteria and accumulation of dirt can disrupt the normal barrier function of the skin, making it sensitive and fragile. At this time, external stimuli such as friction and scratching are more likely to cause skin inflammation. 【 Response Measures 】 1. Sunscreen when going out and taking a shower at home. The primary measure to protect the skin during summer is to do a good job of sun protection when going out. It is recommended to take sun protection measures such as wearing a hat, wearing long sleeved clothing, and applying sunscreen. In addition, when returning home every day, it is advisable to take a bath with a gentle cleaning product to remove dirt and bacteria from the skin surface, but do not rub vigorously to avoid human damage to the skin. 2. Wearing breathable clothing in summer is recommended to choose cotton or other breathable clothing to reduce the time sweat stays on the skin surface and reduce the risk of bacterial growth. 3. Avoid excessive scratching. When the skin is itchy, do not scratch excessively. You can apply cold compress or anti itch ointment to relieve discomfort. 4. Key points for preventing spleen and stomach disharmony: Pay attention to dietary hygiene to protect digestive function. In hot summer, digestive system diseases are also popular. One type is acute gastroenteritis, characterized by sudden abdominal pain, diarrhea, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or fever. Another type is indigestion, with symptoms such as bloating, early satiety (feeling full after eating a little), belching (hiccups), etc. In general, digestive system diseases are prone to occur in people with unclean diets (often eating roadside stalls and takeout), a preference for high oil and fat foods, and irregular lifestyles. The main reasons for the impact of humid and hot weather on the digestive system are decreased appetite and weakened digestive and absorption functions. High temperature can affect the normal peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract, reduce enzyme activity in the intestine, and cause food to stay in the stomach for too long, slowing down the speed of digestion and absorption of nutrients. In addition, food is prone to spoilage and spoilage in humid and hot weather. If unclean food is consumed, it may cause gastrointestinal infections, leading to symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain. [Countermeasures] 1. To reduce the burden of gastrointestinal tract, we should choose light and digestible food in summer, such as Congee, noodles, etc., and avoid greasy, spicy and other stimulating food to reduce the burden of gastrointestinal tract. 2. Avoid raw or semi raw food to ensure freshness and hygiene, and avoid consuming expired or spoiled food. During the cooking process, it is important to separate raw and cooked food, and it is best to cook thoroughly before consumption, avoiding raw or semi raw food. 3. Exercise appropriately. When the weather permits, exercise appropriately such as walking, jogging, swimming, etc. to promote metabolism and blood circulation in the body, and improve digestive function. But it is necessary to avoid vigorous exercise at noon to avoid heatstroke. 5. Key points for arthritis prevention: In summer, it is still necessary to keep warm and prevent getting cold. In people's impression, arthritis is more common in winter, but in fact, it is not uncommon for the disease to occur or worsen in summer. Specific symptoms include joint swelling, pain, redness and fever, and even joint stiffness in the morning. The main reason for the rise of the incidence rate of arthritis in summer is that hot and humid weather affects the human immune system, which leads to abnormal immune response. This abnormal response may attack the cartilage and synovium of the joint, and then cause arthritis. In addition, high temperature and humidity environments can also disrupt the fluid balance in the joint area, leading to increased fluid accumulation in the joint cavity, joint swelling, and pain. 【 Response Measures 】 1. Keep the living environment dry. Arthritis patients should try to keep the living environment dry and ventilated. If necessary, dehumidifiers or air conditioning dehumidification functions can be used to reduce indoor humidity. 2. Wear knee pads in air-conditioned rooms. Although the temperature is high in summer, it is still important to keep the joints warm, especially when in air-conditioned rooms. It is recommended to wear knee pads, wrist pads, etc. 3. Follow medical advice for medication treatment. If the symptoms of arthritis are severe, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, immunosuppressants, etc. can be used under the guidance of a doctor for treatment, but do not self medicate to avoid delaying or worsening the condition. (Lai Xin She)