A general Physician, Dr Nkechi Asogwa, said that excessive heat could trigger skin cancer, especially in those with sensitive skin while asthmatic patients were prone to breathing difficulty.
Nweke, in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, also advised people to take a lot of y water regularly, to prevent health problems associated with heat or hot weather.
“Under this extreme heat, you experience heat exhaustion with symptoms like intense thirst, heavy sweating, anxiety, dizziness, fainting, nausea or vomiting and headache.
“People suffer from asthma, albinos develop skin cancer, heat rash and other serious health problems.
“The heat is causing more than just discomfort; as temperatures rise, so are the number of illnesses too.
“This weather condition is very critical because the world super powers are developing certain technology that are detrimental to our health.
“Because of industrial revolution, there is a gradual declination of the Antarctic and Arctic zones where you have ice covering.
“And the gases we are emitting into the atmosphere have destroyed parts of the Ozone Layer. This is what is causing extreme heat.”
Asogwa stressed the need to keep cool and protect one‘s health whenever there was high temperature.
“During hot weather, you will need to increase your fluid intake, regardless of your activity level. Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink.
“Do not drink liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar. These can cause you to lose more body fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
“Keep drinking to replace water; if you don’t do so, your kidney might also be affected.
“Anyday you sweat so much and you don’t replace, your urine will be so concentrated because the body is trying to preserve water.
“If you do not take enough water or liquid, you will not be able to remove waste products from the body.
“The waste product of metabolism has to go through the kidney and it requires water to flush it out, so you must drink water regularly, “ she said.
Asogwa further urged health personnel and the three tiers of government to educate the masses through public campaigns, to prevent health problems associated with heat.