As expected, the summer has been very hot, a climatic reality that is increasingly affecting more and more the people of Holguin with an impact in different areas.
The heat, the intense sun and the frequent interruptions of the electricity service are inevitably leading to the alteration of our daily normality.
Such conditions also favor an epidemiological scenario with health risks due to environmental factors.
In view of this situation, it is advisable to intensify health surveillance and to take precautionary measures to minimize the impact of high temperatures, especially in those who cannot look after themselves.
This includes the elderly, especially those who live alone or are dependent; children under five; pregnant women; and people with disabilities or suffering from chronic non-communicable diseases.
Exposure to heat, depending on its intensity, may trigger mild discomfort or damage that can sometimes be life-threatening. Very high temperatures cause dehydration, exhaustion, syncope, dermatitis, cramps, edema or heat stroke.
But also, as indirect effects, there is the aggravation of diseases, mainly cardiovascular, respiratory and renal; and even alterations in behavior and even behavioral alterations and a decrease in work productivity and school performance.
In addition, the current high temperatures also contribute to the rapid spoilage of the foods street vendors in Holguín, as they generally lack adequate refrigeration and preservation conditions.
In fact, in the summer months, the possibility of multiplication of the germs that produce food poisoning increases in the summer months.
Of course, in Holguín there are also social and economic factors that influence on the harmful effects of the heat, such as the demographic characteristics of the population, the quality of housing,
the current energy situation, difficulties with the acquisition of ventilation systems (air conditioning or fan), and the insufficient supply of clothing and umbrellas in the retail market.
Cuba is vulnerable to climate change, and therefore the rise in temperatures is felt more intensely duirng the summer, a period when special attention should be paid to basic healthy habits and hydration, and watch out for sun exposure.
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