DOH cautions penitents

MANILA, Philippines - Too much sacrifice could be deadly, as the Department of Health (DOH) cautioned yesterday Catholic devotees not to engage in too many rituals and other traditional Holy Week practices.

Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, DOH Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases program manager, said penitents should not misconstrue expression of faith with endangering their health.

Lee Suy said that too much exposure to sunlight while doing the traditional Holy Week practices could lead to heat stroke.

“Of course while you’re going through the practice and you neither drink nor eat and are exposed to the sun – you might think it’s part of the process when you’ve already suffered heat stroke,” Lee Suy explained.

He said heat stroke occurs when the body overheats and can’t cool down due to hot and humid weather as well as too much direct exposure to the sun.

Persons afflicted with heat stroke suffer from warm, flushed skin, dizziness, weakness, headache, which might lead to very high fever of 41 degrees Celsius, rapid heart beat, convulsion, delirium, and unconsciousness if left untreated.

Lee Suy said to avoid heat stroke, the public, particularly penitents, should limit their exposure to the sun, drink plenty of water, and avoid coffee, soda or alcohol.

He said penitents should also wear a wide-brimmed hat and long-sleeved shirts when they are outdoors or they could stay in a shady place.

Lee Suy said that even the spectators watching the traditional practice could also be prone to heat stroke as they are equally exposed to the sun.