Due to the severe heat wave across the country, the number of heart and kidney patients is increasing in the capital’s specialized hospitals. Health workers are struggling under the pressure of patients in emergency and outpatient departments of hospitals.
Doctors say dehydration and electrolyte imbalance are increasing in kidney and heart patients due to excess temperature. As a result, their condition is further deteriorating.
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According to the emergency counter of the National Heart Institute in the capital’s Sherebangla Nagar, the number of patients at the hospital has increased over the past two weeks. Earlier, an average of 300-350 patients came to the emergency department every day, but now around 450 patients are coming.
Mohammad Ibrahim (70) was admitted to the hospital on April 22 due to excessive heat. He is suffering from heart disease. There is also high blood pressure and diabetes. After falling ill, he was admitted to a local clinic at his home in Brahmanbaria. Later the doctors referred him to the National Heart Institute of Dhaka.
Md. Ibrahim’s son Jasim Uddin told the Daily Star, ‘Our house has a tin roof. Since the heat wave started in the middle of last month, my father started having shortness of breath. That evening when it turned serious, we took him to the hospital. Initially, treatment was given for two days in the coronary care unit of the hospital. If the health condition improves, he is brought to the general ward. But he is suffering in the extreme heat in the general ward.’
‘I have brought a table fan as the ceiling fan in the ward is not working. If his condition improves we will take him home. But the worry is whether he will fall ill again due to the heat,” said Jasim.
Doctors said, such hot weather can put extra pressure on the heart to circulate blood. Which can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and sometimes even a heart attack. Patients with stents or valve disorders are at greater risk during heatstroke, they said.
Kajal Kumar Karmakar, associate professor (cardiology) of the National Heart Institute said, ‘The number of high blood pressure patients in the emergency and outpatient departments has also increased several times in the last two weeks. We are seeing about 500 patients per day in the emergency, which is more than in the previous few years. 200 more beds have already been added to this 1200 bed hospital. Patients are also admitted in them. We are struggling to cope with the pressure of patients.’
Kidney patients are also affected due to excessive heat. Noor Islam (70), a resident of Chandpur, was admitted to the National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology in the capital on April 15. According to the family, he was dehydrated due to sweating profusely in the summer.
Wife Manwara Begum said, ‘He has been asked to drink 750 ml of water every day. But we cannot be sure if this water is sufficient due to excessive sweating in summer.’
Doctors at the institute said it is a challenge for doctors to determine the exact amount of water that kidney patients who sweat a lot need to drink.
Kidney Foundation Hospital and Research Institute doctor Sheikh Mainul Ahsan said, ‘It is difficult to treat patients with chronic kidney disease now. Because they are getting dehydrated. Meanwhile, they should not drink more than the prescribed amount of water. But if dehydration is severe, the patient may lose limbs.’
“At least eight to 10 patients have come to the Kidney Foundation in the last few days, who have fallen ill in the heat.” They were suffering from dehydration but we couldn’t let them drink more water than directed. Because it will disrupt their kidney function. It is a difficult situation’, he said.
In severe heat, kidney patients are advised to avoid sunlight as much as possible, stay indoors and get plenty of rest.
