The Harmattan and You
The Harmattan is a
cold-dry and dusty trade wind, blowing over the West African subcontinent. This
northeasterly wind blows from the Sahara
Desert into the Gulf of Guinea
There are some
associated risks, that comes with the onset and presence of Harmattan. These
include:
The risks of fire outbreaks and poor visibility for driving. But in this article, we will focus on the health issues.
The risks of fire outbreaks and poor visibility for driving. But in this article, we will focus on the health issues.
Health Hazards
• Nose bleeds: Humidity drops to as low as 15%, which can result in spontaneous nosebleeds for some people. Therefore it is important to be vigilant, and maintain an upright posture always. . If possible, avoid bending down , with your head turned downwards.
• Allergies: at this time, there will be severe cold mixed with dust, people with asthmatic conditions and any sort of inhalant allergies are advised to take precautions because this is the period when they will be inhaling all sorts of dust. Asthma patients should be cautious. They tend to have more attacks because harmattan carries dust, pollen grains and other allergenic materials capable of triggering attacks. This is the period when the Asthmatic suffers more crises. Many also suffer pneumonia and bronchitis, especially the very young and the aged.
Also at this time, many develop cough, colds, running and blocked nose, sore throat, watery allergic eyes. And some may actually develop a temperature, from resulting infection.
At this time, some people also come up malaria, because of the compromised immunity from the effect of the dusty particles. Those that are allergic to cold should also endeavor to go for thick clothing that can cover them up.
Remedy: antihistamine tablets and eye drops are very useful, to ease the resulting symptoms, and block reaction sites. Medicated lozenges, cough syrups and sweets, and medications for colds and flu, could be very useful. Natural remedies have worked wonders. I have tried and found out that a good blend of fresh garlic cloves, ginger, lime and honey mix, taken in warm water did wonders for me. This coupled with a very good rest , helped.
• The skin: The skin is usually dry with accompanying cracking of the lips, sole of the feet and even the skin itself. The skin can be kept healthy by topical application of good quality moisturizing lotions, petroleum jelly, and lip balm coupled and weather friendly dressing. It is advisable to wear clothing that gives warmth.
• The eyes: The eyes are directly exposed to the harsh weather especially the dust particles carried by the wind. Thus itching, foreign body sensation and redness may be common especially in individuals with allergic eye disease. Proper eye hygiene in form of washing with clean water, reduced exposure to dust and protective spectacles are advocated. The application of antihistamine eye drops works .
• Sickle cell anaemia: The dry, cold and dusty wind associated with Harmattan also triggers sickle cell crises in affected individuals. Sickle cell anaemia to recall is a genetic disease in which the red blood cells become sickle under a condition of low oxygen tension leading to blockage of small blood vessels. The reduced blood supply to the tissues results in pain especially from the bones. The blood oxygen is usually reduced in extremes of temperatures, cold in this case. Therefore such persons , , should be vigilant and keep warm as much as possible to prevent crises. Keep a very close call to your doctor.
• Food borne diseases: Because of the dusty atmosphere, there is need to imbibe healthy food preservation culture especially food hawkers such as fruits, vegetables etc to prevent food borne diseases. Fruits and vegetables should be properly washed before eating. Our drinking water containers should also be properly covered.
• Meningococcal meningitis , is quite common during this season as well. It is as a result of the dusty, hot and dry winds. It is prevalent in the Northern parts ofNigeria
• Dehydration: Lots of fluid should be taken to compensate for loss of water from the body into the atmosphere through respiration, perspiration and urinating. Harmattan is the period when the throat gets sore, sneezing is frequent, sometimes the eyes become watery or reddish, frequent headaches, sputum in your saliva because of catarrh and then cold and over time, cough.
• BENFITS : The Harmattan, despite its adverse health effects, is not without some benefits to man. For example, the low temperature associated with it is unfavorable for breeding of mosquitoes thus reducing the incidence of malaria. The cool wind also brings relief from the oppressive heat. It also makes for some beautiful sunrises and sunsets!
• Nose bleeds: Humidity drops to as low as 15%, which can result in spontaneous nosebleeds for some people. Therefore it is important to be vigilant, and maintain an upright posture always. . If possible, avoid bending down , with your head turned downwards.
• Allergies: at this time, there will be severe cold mixed with dust, people with asthmatic conditions and any sort of inhalant allergies are advised to take precautions because this is the period when they will be inhaling all sorts of dust. Asthma patients should be cautious. They tend to have more attacks because harmattan carries dust, pollen grains and other allergenic materials capable of triggering attacks. This is the period when the Asthmatic suffers more crises. Many also suffer pneumonia and bronchitis, especially the very young and the aged.
Also at this time, many develop cough, colds, running and blocked nose, sore throat, watery allergic eyes. And some may actually develop a temperature, from resulting infection.
At this time, some people also come up malaria, because of the compromised immunity from the effect of the dusty particles. Those that are allergic to cold should also endeavor to go for thick clothing that can cover them up.
Remedy: antihistamine tablets and eye drops are very useful, to ease the resulting symptoms, and block reaction sites. Medicated lozenges, cough syrups and sweets, and medications for colds and flu, could be very useful. Natural remedies have worked wonders. I have tried and found out that a good blend of fresh garlic cloves, ginger, lime and honey mix, taken in warm water did wonders for me. This coupled with a very good rest , helped.
• The skin: The skin is usually dry with accompanying cracking of the lips, sole of the feet and even the skin itself. The skin can be kept healthy by topical application of good quality moisturizing lotions, petroleum jelly, and lip balm coupled and weather friendly dressing. It is advisable to wear clothing that gives warmth.
• The eyes: The eyes are directly exposed to the harsh weather especially the dust particles carried by the wind. Thus itching, foreign body sensation and redness may be common especially in individuals with allergic eye disease. Proper eye hygiene in form of washing with clean water, reduced exposure to dust and protective spectacles are advocated. The application of antihistamine eye drops works .
• Sickle cell anaemia: The dry, cold and dusty wind associated with Harmattan also triggers sickle cell crises in affected individuals. Sickle cell anaemia to recall is a genetic disease in which the red blood cells become sickle under a condition of low oxygen tension leading to blockage of small blood vessels. The reduced blood supply to the tissues results in pain especially from the bones. The blood oxygen is usually reduced in extremes of temperatures, cold in this case. Therefore such persons , , should be vigilant and keep warm as much as possible to prevent crises. Keep a very close call to your doctor.
• Food borne diseases: Because of the dusty atmosphere, there is need to imbibe healthy food preservation culture especially food hawkers such as fruits, vegetables etc to prevent food borne diseases. Fruits and vegetables should be properly washed before eating. Our drinking water containers should also be properly covered.
• Meningococcal meningitis , is quite common during this season as well. It is as a result of the dusty, hot and dry winds. It is prevalent in the Northern parts of
• Dehydration: Lots of fluid should be taken to compensate for loss of water from the body into the atmosphere through respiration, perspiration and urinating. Harmattan is the period when the throat gets sore, sneezing is frequent, sometimes the eyes become watery or reddish, frequent headaches, sputum in your saliva because of catarrh and then cold and over time, cough.
• BENFITS : The Harmattan, despite its adverse health effects, is not without some benefits to man. For example, the low temperature associated with it is unfavorable for breeding of mosquitoes thus reducing the incidence of malaria. The cool wind also brings relief from the oppressive heat. It also makes for some beautiful sunrises and sunsets!
Check This Day newspaper for the full story.
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