Doctors who treat people for heatstroke have noticed the quiet emergence of another group of patients seeking treatment for heat-related disorders – elderly spa clients.

One of them, a woman in her 70s, fell asleep in the sauna and was unconscious by the time staff at the spa found her. She was rushed to Singapore General Hospital​​ (SGH) with a very high body temperature. Doctors managed to cool her down by lowering her temperature to normal, but she later died because of complications related to other medical conditions.

At least one other elderly woman is known to have suffered from heatstroke after staying for too long in a sauna or steam bath. She too eventually died.

A/Prof Phua Ghee Cheeopens in a new tab, Senior Consultant at the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicineopens in a new tab, Singapore General Hospitalopens in a new tab (SGH), a member of the SingHealthopens in a new tab group, said: “(Treating people for) exertional heatstroke is less common now because people are more aware of the dangers of doing strenuous exercise​​​​ or sports without proper hydration or preparation.”

“Non-exertional heatstroke – usually seen in the elderly or extremely young – i​s becoming more common. Older people are usually not as fit and may suffer from other medical conditions, making them more prone to complications when hit by heat​stroke. As for small kids, they can’t regulate their body temperatures as well as adults.”

Many people may not realise they are getting heatstroke until the condition becomes severe. Symptoms such as thirst, profuse sweating, giddiness and nausea may be dismissed as minor discomforts. Without treatment, the body temperature can go sky high, rising to at least 41°C, and the person can become confused and disoriented.

Ref: N18