Q COSTA RICA — The El Niño phenomenon not only represents a change in Costa Rica’s weather conditions. The increase in temperatures, greater exposure to solar radiation, and variations in rainfall patterns can have direct consequences for public health, particularly for those with chronic illnesses, the elderly, children, pregnant women, and outdoor workers.
The Colegio de Médicos y Cirujanos de Costa Rica (College of Physicians and Surgeons of Costa Rica) gathered the opinions of specialists from six areas to analyze the main risks associated with this climatic phenomenon and warned that its effects can impact various bodily systems.
Projections from the national weather service, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN), point to a period characterized by above-average temperatures, increased solar radiation, and changes in rainfall patterns. This scenario can lead to cardiovascular, respiratory, dermatological, allergic, renal, and occupational complications.
The president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Elliott Garita Jiménez, urged the public to take preventative measures, but clarified that the goal was not to cause alarm.
“It’s not about creating alarm among the population, but about raising awareness about a situation that requires prevention,” explained Garita, who pointed out that people with chronic illnesses and other vulnerable groups could face an additional risk.
The specialist added that many complications can be avoided through simple actions, such as maintaining adequate hydration, continuing medical treatments, and paying attention to environmental conditions.
“Preparing will always be more effective than reacting when complications arise,” he stated.
The Heart Under Pressure
One of the main effects of high temperatures occurs when the body loses a significant amount of fluids, leading to dehydration.
When this happens, blood can become concentrated, and the cardiovascular system must work harder to maintain adequate blood flow. This situation is especially relevant for older adults and people with heart disease or cardiovascular risk factors.
From his expertise as a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, Garita explained that hydration should be considered a health protection measure.
“Dehydration can thicken the blood and contribute to cardiovascular problems in people who already have arterial disease or risk factors,” he stated.
The doctor recommended maintaining adequate fluid intake and observing urine color as a simple way to identify possible signs of dehydration. He also mentioned fruits with high water content, such as watermelon and cantaloupe, as part of a diet that can contribute to fluid balance.
High temperatures can cause dehydration and increase the effort the cardiovascular system makes to maintain adequate blood flow.
Heat can affect various organs.
The impact of high temperatures is not limited to the heart. According to Internal Medicine specialist Dr. Carlos Araya Fonseca, high temperatures can compromise virtually the entire body.
Heat waves have been linked to an increase in hospitalizations and mortality associated with heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure exacerbations. They can also increase episodes of kidney failure, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections.
People with diabetes and hypertension may also experience difficulties managing their conditions, while the heat can be linked to fatigue and negatively impact on mental health. Furthermore, it represents a risk factor that should be monitored during pregnancy.
“High temperatures affect multiple organs and systems. We are not facing an exclusively respiratory or dermatological problem,” Araya stated.
The doctor insisted that one should not wait until feeling thirsty to start drinking fluids.
“Many people believe they should only hydrate when they feel thirsty, but by that time the body has already begun a dehydration process,” he pointed out.
Dust and smoke complicate breathing
Environmental conditions associated with drier periods can also favor the presence of dust, smoke, and suspended particles in the air.
Pulmonologist Dr. Luis Ugalde Gamboa explained that El Niño does not directly cause respiratory illnesses, but it can modify environmental conditions and increase exposure to pollutants that irritate the respiratory tract.
In healthy individuals, symptoms such as cough, congestion, and a feeling of pressure in the chest may appear. The risk is greater among patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, and other respiratory illnesses.
“When dust, smoke, or fine particles increase in the environment, the respiratory tract responds with inflammation and irritation,” Ugalde stated.
The specialist warned that episodes of forest fires or burning pose an additional risk, because the particles present in the smoke can penetrate deep into the lungs and aggravate both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Stored blankets can accumulate dust mites and cause respiratory allergies and lung infections.
Dust, smoke, and suspended particles can irritate the respiratory tract and trigger attacks in patients with asthma, COPD, and other lung diseases.
Allergies can also intensify.
Allergy specialist Dr. Patricia Monge Ortega explained that the phenomenon does not necessarily generate new allergic diseases, but it can modify the environmental conditions that favor exposure to substances capable of triggering symptoms.
Increased temperatures, variations in humidity, and extreme weather events can modify the presence of environmental allergens and favor respiratory exacerbations.
In Costa Rica, where allergic diseases are prevalent, specialists recommend paying special attention to patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis, as well as children, the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and those with chronic respiratory illnesses.
“Climatic phenomena like El Niño remind us that the environment directly influences our respiratory health,” stated Monge.
The specialist emphasized the importance of keeping allergic diseases under control and seeking timely medical advice if symptoms worsen.
The skin is also affected.
Increased exposure to high temperatures and ultraviolet radiation is another risk highlighted by specialists.
Dr. Orietta Mata Jiménez, a dermatology specialist and president of the Costa Rican Association of Dermatology (ASODERMA), warned that increased sun exposure can raise the risk of sunburn and skin cancer, as well as exacerbate inflammatory conditions such as acne, rosacea, and various types of dermatitis.
Heat and sweating can also promote fungal and bacterial infections.
Among those who require special protection are children and newborns, older adults, people with fair skin, patients with a history of skin cancer or numerous moles, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and people with chronic dermatological conditions.
Mata emphasized that skin care should be maintained year-round.
“The skin has a memory. Every sunburn increases the risk of developing skin cancer in the future,” she noted.
Working in the sun also involves risk.
Workers who perform their jobs outdoors are among the groups most exposed to the consequences of heat.
Occupational Medicine specialist Dr. Viviana Gómez Sánchez pointed out that farmers, construction workers, road maintenance workers, security personnel, and waste collectors, among others, may face a higher risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, acute kidney injury, and cardiovascular complications.
The doctor also challenged the perception that people accustomed to working in the sun are protected.
“There is a misconception that being used to the heat eliminates the risk,” Gómez explained.
Acclimatization can improve physiological tolerance, but it does not eliminate the possibility of suffering from heat-related illnesses.
Furthermore, heat can directly affect worker performance. As body temperature rises, concentration, working memory, coordination, decision-making ability, and reaction time can decrease, thus increasing the risk of accidents.
Therefore, the specialist recommended combining individual and company measures: hydrating before feeling thirsty, establishing recovery breaks, moving the most demanding tasks to cooler hours, wearing light clothing and sunscreen, and training staff to promptly recognize heat-related symptoms.
For the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the El Niño scenario requires anticipation and vigilance. The general recommendation is that people with chronic illnesses maintain their treatments, monitor any changes in their symptoms, and adopt protective measures against heat, solar radiation, and air pollution.
The experts’ message is clear: prevention can reduce the impact of the phenomenon on health, especially among people who already have medical conditions or who, due to their age, work activity or particular characteristics, face greater exposure to its effects.