Heat Wave

Impact to Human Health

1.Heat-related Illnesses
Rapid increase in body heat due to hotter than average weather may affect the body’s ability to regulate temperature properly. Early symptoms of prolonged exposure to heat include increased sweating, muscle cramps, confusion, dizziness, rash, nausea and fatigue.⁴ However, exposure to a temperature that is too great for the body to self-regulate may result in heat stroke. It is a life threatening condition whereby the body reaches a core temperature of 40 C or more.⁵

2. Inflammation of the Body⁶
An unusually hot heat wave can also affect humans indirectly. Combined with the recent dry spell, forest fires can be a real problem which results in air pollution and haze. When we are exposed to the smoke and dust particles, the irritation to the mucosal lining  of our respiratory tract, skin and eyes would result in inflammation. This manifests in a variety of ways such as shortness of breath, coughing, running nose, increased mucus or phlegm production, irritation of the eyes, throat and skin. This will also trigger atopic flare ups or asthma attacks in individuals with eczema, sinus, asthma or other lung diseases.

Tips to Combat the Heat Wave^4,6

1. Drink more water or cool beverages to stay hydrated.
2. Take cool showers.
3. Use cool patches or ice packs to cool the body down.
4. Reduce outdoor activities and stay in the much cooler in-doors as much as possible during this period of time.
5. Wear loose and cooling clothes with light colors.
6. Wear a facemask to filter out the dust particles.

Take supplements such as tiger milk mushroom that may reduce inflammation and strengthen the lungs. This is especially beneficial for those with asthma, eczema or those who had contracted Covid-19 before.

Benefits of Tiger Milk Mushroom⁷

1. Immuno-modulating Effect⁸. It helps to balance and boost the body’s immune system. It’s especially beneficial for those with atopic conditions like asthma and eczema because it helps to reduce the body’s own reaction and sensitivity to their triggers. This helps keep eczema flares and asthma attacks at bay.
2. Natural Anti-Inflammatory Effect9. It was shown in some studies that it helps to regulate the levels of excessive Immunoglobulin E (a type of antibody that is involved in allergic reaction) and Eosinophils (a type of white blood cell involved in allergic pathway).
3. Bronchodilating Effect¹⁰.
   By functioning like an inhaler, it helps to open up the airway. That is why it is especially beneficial for asthmatics because it helps them breathe better and improve their respiratory health.