HARMATTAN; SEASON OF COLD, CATARRH AND SORE THROATS

Its the season of the year. That period usually characterized by Dusty and dry wind which predisposes many people to cold, catarrh, sore throat and other harmattan-related infections.
At the moment, the harmattan haze is sweeping across the country spreading a dusty wind and causing various health conditions.
Across many states, many people seem to be suffering from cough and other respiratory infections. Many of them have no idea on how to handle the health challenges.
Experts have explained that harmattan brings about changes in the environment, which in turn leads to an increase in the emergence of common cold and flu.
Interestingly, the natural wind of change spares no one, man or woman, old or young. Dry Lips and skin, cough and catarrh are very rampant throughout this period.

image source is www.jillcataldo.com and www.shutterstock.com

Harmattan is a geographical feature of the sahel Savannah region of West Africa, characterized by cold, hazy atmosphere, Dusty and dry weather. People's lips and soles are the  major sufferers, as they get cracked easily. The eyes are affected too as they become red due to exposure to the dusty wind. The harshness is more pronounced in the northern part of the country, causing different healtho and environmental havocs.

According to experts, airborne diseases are common featured of the dry and Dusty season. Such could cause itching and redness of the eyes, especially with those suffering from eye problems.
Visibility is poor for drivers and pilots especially in the morning and at night. It is common for flights to be cancelled or delayed during this season for the sake of the passengers safety. The need for extra precaution in transversong from point A to B cannot be over-emphasized.

NATURAL REMEDIES FOR HARMATTAN-RELATED INFECTIONS

Dermatologists, Family physicians and public health experts have stressed the need to ensure good personal hygiene and general sanitation to curtail diseases associated with the harmattan. They also prescribe more intake of water, as people are thirstier and could easily get dehydrated during this period.

image source is www.dreamstime.com

A Lagos based practitioner, Oludara David Agboola said that one of the ways one could stay healthy during harmattan is to take more vitamin supplements as often as possible, e.g Vitamin-C to keep the body safe while children could be given syrup of vitamins. The primary function of vitamin supplements is to prevent harmattan related diseases and other diseases such as scurvy, flu, and so on which may affect people, adults or babies whem exposed to dusty winds.

image source is www.mirro.co.uk

Another way to cope and live healthy during the season is to wear thick clothing.
Wearing thick clothing helps prevent cold infection, or over exposing the chest to cold symptoms. You can keep your children or babies safe by getting them to put on thick clothes.

Use Balm/body moisturizer because the harmattan caused dry skin, dry lips, lip-cracks, skin cracks and so on. The only way to manage this is by using lil balm on your lips, and applying moisturizing creams on the body. Using this healthy due to its contents. It protects thr skin Surface from various  irritations that may Surface. And one of he best ways to keep your babies safe is by rubbing their bodies with Shea butter or any wet skin lotion that prevents the body from dryness.

image source is www.gurly.com

The expert also stressed the need to eat lots of fruits during this season, explaining that fruits contains vitamins and minerals that prevent diseases and also increase the body's metabolism. Fruits contain water and fibre which aid digestion and ease the passage of faeces from the body. It is also gppd to wash fruits and vegetables before consumption.

image source is www.depositphotos.com

Both adults and children should bath warm water in the morning and at night before going to bed. This will keep the body warm and free of cold and other flu symptoms. Avoid cold drinks during this period because it is not healthy to take cold drinks which may lead to cough, flu, sore-throat catarrh, etc.

People with existing respiratory complications such as asthma and pneumonia should be more conscious of their conditions and more  careful during this season. Cold and Dusty weather often aggravates these conditions.

Those suffering from asthma and other respiratory conditions should wear respirators to reduce exposure to the dust which could trigger and attack. They also go around with their inhalers.

image source = www.shutterstock.com

The good news that harmattan brings is that the weather is unfavourable for mosquitoes to bread, thereby reducing malaria.