UK GP. mole and skin cancer expert Dr Ross Perry shared his advice on how to prepare for the European heatwave.
The feature originally appeared on the Daily Mail online website, headlined:
It has subsequently reappeared on MSN, where it is titled:
“European heatwave: How to prepare if you’re going on holiday“
Temperatures in mainland Europe are expected to hit as high as 48.8C in some places thanks to the current heatwave, posing ‘life-threatening’ health risks for those intending to travel to the regions affected.
Tourists flying into resorts in popular destinations including Spain, Italy, Turkey, Greece and Croatia are likely to experience the worst of the sweltering heat, which is caused by anticyclone weather system from the Sahara desert expanding towards the North. The UK is as yet unaffected.
Dr Perry told Daily Mail readers to look out for early symptoms of heatstroke, such as nausea, dizziness, feeling faint or confused and experiencing cramp:
“A sudden temperature change is also less than ideal, particularly if you go on holiday to somewhere very hot and you’ve been used to colder weather at home.
“Your body can struggle to adjust to the sudden change. If you think you might have a heat related exhaustion or indeed heat stroke you need to seek medical help immediately.”
Dr Perry continued:
“People tend to get heatstroke when they’ve had prolonged exposure to high temperatures combined with dehydration which then leads to failure of the body’s control system.”
Dr Perry explained that heat stroke, in medical terms, is
“…when the body temperature is greater than 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Infants and those over the age of 65 are at greater risk of heat stroke due to the body temperature being more difficult to regulate at these ages. Obesity is also a common factor because the body retains more heat when you weigh more.”
He advised those on medication to take particular care to ensure they stay hydrated while in such temperatures – dehydration can also lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
A spokesperson for The Association of British Travel Agents also provided heat-related health advice for those travelling abroad:
“High temperatures around our favourite holiday hotspots are not uncommon at this time of year and it is always important that you take sensible precautions, particularly making sure that you and your family drink plenty of bottled water as it is extremely easy to become dehydrated, and always use plenty of high factor sun cream.
“Follow the example of local people and leave the beach at midday and early afternoon when the sun is at its most powerful, to have a long, leisurely alfresco lunch in the shade.”
Further tips and advice includes:
Ross qualified in 1994 at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital Medical School, London. His career includes NHS skin cancer reconstruction, work as a GP, as well as private cosmetic skin treatments.
He established Cosmedics Skin Clinics in 2003 and remains in charge as Medical Director. He is renowned for natural-looking use of non-surgical cosmetic and anti-ageing injections and is especially well known for dealing with unwanted skin lesions and blemishes (e.g. moles, cysts, warts skin tags).
Dr Ross Perry is frequently called upon by the media for his expert insights and comments on skin and beauty-related issues.
Cosmedics Skin Clinics was established in 2003. Over the last 19 years, it has built up an excellent reputation for cosmetic and medical skin treatments.
The company offer a full range of cosmetic treatments, including popular lip enhancement and wrinkle relaxing injections, dermal fillers. In addition, there is a range of medical treatments including mole removal, thread vein treatment and excessive sweating injections.
Cosmedics Skin Clinics has 5 skin clinics across London and Bristol. Treatments are carried out by GMC Registered Doctors and Surgeons.
Call 020 7386 0464 or email enquiries@cosmedics.co.uk to book an appointment.
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