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| The hazy look of Lagos during harmattan |
Experts also add that there are many health challenges that also show up
in many individuals this period. Family Health physician, Dr.Femi Omolola, says
this is the time to keep warm before going to bed to avoid being exposed to
cold weather related problems.
Omolola warns that asthmatic patients and people living with sickle cell
anaemia need to prepare specially for the health challenges they may face this
period due to the cold weather, which would most often affect their joints and
restrain their movement.
He says, “ If you are suffering from any disease of the joint such as
arthritis, sickle cell anaemia, rheumatism or osteoporosis, you should take
more care because the cold but dry weather encourages brittle bones.”
The physician also explains that
the cold and dry air that blows during harmattan irritates the respiratory
system and makes it difficult for
asthmatic patients to breathe easily at night and in the mornings.
Another physician at the Public Health Department
of University of Wisconsin, United States of America, Dr. Tinsely Davis,
describes prolonged daily exposure to cold weather as an open invitation to
diseases like rheumatism, cardiac arrest, pneumonia and arthritis; and, in
severe cases, death from hypothermia.
Davis notes that staying unprotected from a cold
weather like the one we are in right now could lead to joint and muscle pains,
which may result in rheumatic pain in the neck, back or legs in future.
She says, “Typical chronic rheumatic pains in
joints or muscles become more intense if people are exposed to cold weather.
Therefore, if you get the chills quickly, you may want to avoid, as much as
possible, being exposed to such cold temperature.”
Davis adds that the respiratory system suffers
greatly when the body is exposed to cold and dry weather like that of the
harmattan.
According to her, the cool temperature helps the
bacteria and virus that cause pneumonia, laryngitis and pharyngitis to thrive.
Davis states, “The risk of respiratory irritation
is quite high when the weather is too cold and it becomes easy to catch these
bacterial or viral infections that cause problems in the lungs, throat, nose or
ear.
“It firsts starts with trivial illnesses like
cold, catarrh and cough; and gradually, it becomes more serious to neuralgia
(pain) in the head or torso, toothaches, headaches and sinus; then
paralysis of the eyelids, mouth and nerves or cardiac failure.”
There are so many challenges one could face during this period like
cracking of lips or cold, dry skin, catarrh, cough and It’s important to
stay safe and healthy especially because really cold temperatures bring risks.
Please look after yourselves and follow these ways to cope better with cold
weather.
Dressing
If you
have to go outside, you must dress warmly. Even if you are only making a short
journey, be sure to dress in lots of layers. Layers work better than one really
thick item because air is trapped between the layers, keeping you warm. After
all, you can also remove layers at your destination.
Another
of the ways to cope with extreme cold weather in terms of dressing is to look after
your extremities and exposed areas. Hats, scarves, gloves and appropriate
footwear are all a must. Before you leave your house, ask yourself this question:
If I have to hang around, say for a delay in transport, or my car gets caught
in traffic, would I stay warm? If the answer is no, you are not dressed
appropriately..
Eat soup and hot
foods
Soup! Eating hot soup is the best answer of all to the cold
weather, because not only does it warm you up, but it also fills your belly.
Coffee and cocoa are also good at warming you up, but they don’t do quite as
good of a job at filling your belly.
Eating hot food would also ensure that bacteria and virus
do not thrive in your belly.
