Docs sound caution as rising temp leads to spurt in indigestion, cough and cold
Times of India | 31 March 2025
12 Kolkata: As predicted by the Met office, the maximum temperature came down further on Sunday. However, the rising humidity level pushed up the real feel to over 40 when the city recorded a maximum temperature of 35°C. The Alipore weather office says there is no possibility of rain at present.
The heat and humidity, however, are causing illness among many, including viral cold and cough, dehydration, digestive issues, stomach infections, and heat stress. Doctors cautioned taking up measures to keep heat-related health issues at bay.
"Many patients are experiencing prolonged symptoms of cold and cough, with some are also presenting digestive issues like indigestion and stomach infections. Poor dietary habits, including excessive fast food consumption, dehydration, and contaminated water intake, are key contributors to these conditions in this present weather condition," said Joydeep Ghosh, internal medicine consultant at Fortis Anandapur.
While the maximum temperature slipped down to 35 degrees in the city on Sunday to hover around the normal mark, the minimum temperature rose further to 27.5°C. The Met office said the rise in the night temperature was due to increased moisture incursion.
"Southerly wind is injecting moisture near the surface level. That is why the discomfort level is rising despite the maximum temperature slipping down. We do not see any significant change in the weather condition for now," said HR Biswas, head of the weather forecast section at Regional Meteorological Centre Kolkata.
In such a situation, doctors said precautions that include good food habits, restricting outdoor activities during the afternoon, and choosing the right kind of clothing could be of help. "Summer heat exacerbates digestive issues, especially when consuming oily, spicy, or unhygienic foods. Exposed cut fruits and contaminated water further increase the risk of stomach infections. To prevent these issues, a balanced, non-spicy diet is strongly recommended during this season," added Ghosh.
Even as the city has not reported any heat stroke so far, health experts said that long exposure to this heat and humidity can lead to heat exhaustion. The most vulnerable are individuals in the two extreme age groups and those with comorbidities. "Balanced hydration through enough fluid intake and controlled exposure outdoors during the daytime can protect individuals from conditions like heat stroke, exhaustion, and dehydration," said Shalini Bhutta, consultant physician at Neotia Mediplus.
The mercury shot up to the season's highest of 37.6°C on Friday before it gradually started dipping. Despite the dip, rising humidity is raising the discomfort factor. A few days ago, the city was getting the dry northwesterly wind. Now the city is getting the southerly wind that is injecting moisture from the Bay of Bengal. The Met officials said that the moisture incursion was closer to the surface, reducing the possibility of thundercloud formation.
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