Heatwave: Doctors warn of gastrointestinal, heart risks, urge precautions

As Jammu and Kashmir continues to reel under an intense heatwave, health experts are raising alarms over the surge in heat-related illnesses. They said that from gastrointestinal infections to life-threatening cardiovascular complications, the soaring temperatures are posing a serious threat to public health.

- JAHANGEER GANAIE

Doctors, with whom the news agency spoke, said that extreme heat can trigger a wide range of diseases, especially among vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and those with preexisting health conditions.

Dr Nisar Ahmad Mir, a noted physician posted in south Kashmir, said that heatwaves drastically increase the risk of gastrointestinal issues like diarrhoea, vomiting, and food poisoning, particularly due to the consumption of unhygienic or spoiled food.