Thankfully the current heatwave is forecast to change to somewhat cooler temperatures as a northwesterly wind develops later today.

The number of people referred to hospital for dehydration, sunstroke, or other conditions directly related to the hot weather was no higher than usual yesterday despite the high temperatures that led the Health Department to issue an advisory, John Cachia, director institutional health, said.

However, an increase in the number of ill people who suddenly got worse, was noticed, Dr Cachia said. This mainly concerned those with cardiac and respiratory problems, who went to casualty and were then admitted to hospital.

“We noticed a slight increase in complications and the worsening of medical conditions among those who already had problems,” he said, explaining that it was “the classic situation of the body’s reaction in extreme temperatures”.

It was the third time this year that a health advisory of the sort was issued in keeping with the third wave of extremely hot weather, Dr Cachia said.

The health warning advises the public on the importance of keeping well hydrated as high temperatures cause water to be lost from the body at quick rates, resulting in dehydration and possibly also leading to heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Those who run a greater risk of serious harm include the elderly, babies and young children, people with chronic conditions and physically active persons.

Dr Cachia said that an external notice to the public is accompanied by an internal notification in the wards to increase vigilance over those types of problems that could be aggravated by the heat. Nurses are asked to pay particular attention in hospitals and homes for the elderly.