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BAGUIO CITY: Health officials in the Cordillera
warned the public to watch their health, as hospitals are treating
more people who fall ill because
of the plummeting temperatures.
Most of the patients are either
children or senior citizens, both of whom appear to be more
vulnerable to the cold spell that is more pronounced here and in
neighboring provinces.
But Antonio Bautista, regional
chief of the Disease Prevention and Control of the Department of
Health-Cordillera, said there is no direct correlation between cold
weather and illnesses, but he conceded that there is a rise in
“consultation cases” in government hospitals.
More people are requiring
treatment at Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, but most of
the cases are non-life threatening—mainly colds and respiratory
diseases.
Bautista said reports show a
similar trend in Mayoyao town, in Ifugao province.
Baguio’s mercury level dipped
to its lowest 7.5 degrees Celsius on Thursday morning, the coldest
in 23 years. In 1986, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) recorded the low
temperature at 6.8 degrees Celsius.
Temperatures dipped to 9.6
degrees Celsius on Wednesday, according to the weather bureau, which
forecast that the mercury would fall further to 8 degrees Celsius
this weekend.
The average temperature range in
Baguio is from 15 to 23 degrees Celsius, while the minimum low
temperature in this mountain resort city at any given day of the
year is 18 degrees Celsius.
Chilly advisory
Local health officials are
reissuing a cold-weather advisory, as the local office of the
Department of Health said the condition of those suffering from
chronic diseases and those under tuberculosis treatment, asthma,
emphysema or bronchitis must be monitored.
“Cold weather might precipitate
these diseases,” Bautista said.
The Health department also
advised people to abstain from drinking alcohol and smoking, which
may make people warm momentarily but could have adverse health
consequences later on.
Instead, Bautista recommends
drinking lots of warm fluids and eating honey.
Other government doctors
recommend exercising, ideally between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Also, people should not use water
stored in containers or drums to wash their faces that may cause
constriction of the blood vessels, the Health department officials
said, adding that people should stir the water first.
--Thom F. Picaña With Harley F. Palangchao
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