Viral infection, heat give Mumbai a headache

MUMBAI: Day temperatures of above 35 degrees Celsius made Mumbaikars grip their heads in pain on Friday.
On Friday, Colaba recorded a maximum of 34.2 degrees Celsius, while Santa Cruz recorded 35.3 degrees Celsius.
On Thursday, Colaba recorded 31.5 degrees Celsius, while Santa Cruz recorded 33.1 degrees Celsius.
The Met department said this was only the start of the infamous October heat."Now that the monsoon is withdrawing, the humidity levels are going down and the heat is increasing," said V K Rajeev, director of weather forecast, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai.
"The temperatures are not too much above normal," he said, adding that Mumbaikars can expect temperatures to increase further. "As the monsoon withdraws completely from the city in the next two to three days, the wind blowing in the city will come from across land. This will in turn increase the temperatures," he said.
Doctors said there are two reasons why many Mumbaikars may be suffering from the taxing headaches. Dr Hemant Thacker, who consults with Jaslok and Breach Candy Hospitals, said 50% of headaches being reported are associated with sub-clinical viral infections. He explained though there is an absence of fever, the viral infection is causing a throat irritation along with a nagging headache that waxes and wanes throughout the day. The rise in temperature is also to blame. "The acute change in temperature has been causing immense heat all through the day, causing severe headaches and dehydration," he said.
It is important that people drink plenty of water and liquids, avoid going out in the sun and take symptomatic treatment like painkillers for the headache only if absolutely unbearable, say doctors.