Amid extreme heatwaves, a traditional claim that onions can prevent\nheatstroke has gone viral on social media, but medical experts and\nglobal health organisations are firmly debunking the myth as dangerous\nmisinformation. The claim, widely circulated in India and Pakistan,\nsuggests that carrying an onion in one\u2019s pocket or consuming large\namounts of it can protect against heat-related illness. One video posted\nby a Pakistani television station in June 2026 promoted the practice as\nan ancestral remedy.<\/p>\n
Dr.\u00a0Nadeem Ullah Khan, a professor of emergency medicine at Aga Khan\nUniversity Hospital, explained that the primary danger lies not in the\nonion itself, but in the resulting substitution behaviour. Individuals\nwho believe in this false protection may reduce their water intake,\nprolong their exposure to the sun during peak hours between 11 a.m. and\n4 p.m., and neglect wearing protective clothing or seeking shade.<\/p>\n
The World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Pakistan\nemphasised that heatstroke is a life-threatening medical emergency\ncaused by the body\u2019s failure to regulate its temperature. With\nheat-related deaths rising significantly in recent decades, the WHO\ninsists that prevention relies on scientifically proven measures, not\nunverified traditional remedies. The public is urged to follow official\nweather warnings and avoid relying on unproven folk medicine, as proper\npreventive actions are critical for survival when temperatures soar\nabove 45 degrees Celsius.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/medical-experts-warn-against-myth-that-onions-prevent-heatstroke-1781542232", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }