Heat and power outages combine to worsen health risks, specialist warns

The combination of rising temperatures and persistent electricity cuts is creating a dangerous health crisis, exacerbating conditions for individuals with pre-existing illnesses. Carlos Carmona, a physiotherapist and director of the Neurovida rehabilitation center in Maracay, Aragua state, issued a stark warning about the deteriorating physical and mental well-being of citizens.

Carmona explained that extreme environmental conditions disrupt the body's delicate balance and impede medical recovery. "In health, we talk about the biopsychosocial model, which means that a person is not just a body, but also a mind, and that body and mind are related to their environment," he stated in an interview with Radio Fe y Alegría Noticias. For patients with neurological conditions, excessive heat intensifies muscle weakness, chronic fatigue, blurred vision, and loss of balance.

Even individuals without prior health issues are suffering. The lack of air conditioning or adequate ventilation during power outages leads to stress, headaches, dehydration, mood swings, fainting, and heatstroke. Carmona identified the elderly, children, and patients with hypertension or diabetes as the most vulnerable populations during these electrical failures.

To mitigate the risks, Carmona recommended using battery-powered portable fans or manual hand fans to combat the heat. He also stressed the importance of constant hydration, even without feeling thirsty, and suggested applying damp towels to the head and neck for cooling. Crucially, he advised against using ice-cold water for showers when feeling extremely hot, warning that the abrupt temperature shift can damage facial nerves, potentially causing paralysis or worsening joint pain for those with arthritis and arthrosis.