As extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, El Niño is being closely monitored as one of the possible forces at play. Climate experts believe that it is not the sole culprit and that climate change and other natural weather patterns are collectively amplifying El Niño’s effects, making the global climate increasingly unpredictable.
In Tamil Nadu, the effects of a changing climate are becoming a serious concern and the rising temperatures and delayed and fluctuating rainfall are placing public health at risk. While prolonged heat spells can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and kidney complications, heavy rainfall and flooding can cause diseases such as dengue and diarrhoeal infections.
Chennai’s healthcare specialists weigh in on the very many risks that we must be aware of. Dr NK Ganesh Prasad, clinical lead and senior consultant of Nephrology, SRM Prime Hospital, informs, “Disaster and nephropathy is not a new correspondence. Extremes of heat and rain, are factors that can cause kidney disease. For those with kidney diseases as well these extremes of weather are problematic.”
Harsh weather spells
Firstly, he shares how heat stress can affect even healthy and young individuals who spend more time outside, including delivery agents, small-scale shopkeepers, sales agents, among others, by what is called heat stress nephrology. “This is one of the diseases where the patients get exhausted due to extreme heat exposure and they develop rhabdomyolysis, which directly affects the kidney,” he says, adding “Heat basically causes sweating which results in salt and water loss, reducing effective circulating volume, renal percolation, and activates vasoconstrictors. Basically, it reduces the blood circulation to important organs and can cause problems for the kidneys, too.” Therefore, adequate hydration and frequent rest in shaded areas are key.
Heat waves pose a huge threat to kidney patients, especially those undergoing dialysis, as they are restricted from drinking excessive amounts of water. Dr Ganesh borrows from recent studies and informs that extreme humid conditions have been associated with increased mortality in the dialysis patients. Other renal issues such as the formation of stones in the kidney can also be tied to dehydration — which both heat and wet weather can cause, since during wet and cooler months, people tend to feel less thirsty.
Although heavy rains do not directly cause any kidney disease, flooding and water contamination can trigger infections which can cause dehydration through diarrheal illness. “This can lead to acute kidney injury but it rarely causes chronic damage,” he adds.
More than kidney-related ailments, when extreme weather persists or weather conditions change abruptly, respiratory issues such as cold, cough, and other breathing-related ailments are among the most common complaints that prompt people to visit doctors. Dr Sridhar R, senior consultant, Interventional Pulmonology, MGM Healthcare, explains why this happens. “Both dry and hot air — during heat and cold weather can be significant irritants for the airway and the lungs. These can aggravate conditions such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and even chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.”
Looming in the air
When changing weather conditions are compounded by climate-related factors such as air pollution, the impact on respiratory health can be even more severe. This is particularly concerning in Chennai, where roads are increasingly polluted and dust levels continue to rise. With large-scale infrastructure and development projects being undertaken by both public and private entities, the problem of dust pollution appears to be worsening, further aggravating pulmonary illnesses and posing a growing threat to public health.
“One can wear a mask, but it’s not going to prevent all the dust from entering the nose. However, it still can prevent some exposure when we are out and about, say walking or riding a bike. Something else that can help is regularly practicing good breathing exercises,” Dr Sridhar advises.
These changing weather conditions do not always affect us internally alone. Their impact can be visible on the outside, in our skin, hair, and overall appearance. Dr KR Sharmatha, senior consultant, Dermatology, SIMS Hospital, explains how both humid and dry conditions can affect the skin and the scalp. During heat and drought-like conditions, people are likely to get sunburns and lack of hydration can result in dry skin that can in-turn cause “sensitive rashes”. “Pollution is an additional factor that can worsen the sensitization from dry weather and humid weather can accelerate the susceptibility to fungal infections, dandruff, acne, and bacterial infections,” she shares. Sharmatha even warns against the common regional practice of applying excessive oil to the scalp during hotter periods as it “will add to a lot of infections on the scalp.” Dehydration caused by dry and cold weather can also result in dry scalp and skin, that can sometimes cause itching and discomfort.
“In the case of humid situations, it is very important that the patient takes bath twice or thrice a day with an appropriate antibacterial or antifungal soap, and a shampoo with salicylic acid. People should keep their skin clean and dry, and make sure there is no accumulation of sweat on the scalp to prevent bacterial and fungal infections.” And during wet and cold months, oral hydration and moisturising combined with good personal hygiene can go a long way, she concludes, as what begins as a shift in ocean temperatures can ultimately become a very real concern for our health.
Medical recommendations to prevent diseases:
1. Stay hydrated and avoid outdoor activities on sunny afternoons
2. Do not wade in stagnant water and limit mosquito breeding in your surroundings
3. Protect your nasal passage and lungs by wearing a well-fitting mask
4. Maintain good hygiene to reduce the risk of infections
5. Protect your skin by using sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, and avoid prolonged exposure to harsh sunlight
6. Maintain a balanced diet and get adequate sleep to support your immune system
7. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist