How to protect your health during harmattan season

During this period people experience cold especially in the morning while visibility is also affected because of the early morning haze making motorists wait sometimes for clear vision or drive with fog lights on while those who could not afford to wait drive at very low speed to avoid accidents.The season comes with its own […]

During this period people experience cold especially in the morning while visibility is also affected because of the early morning haze making motorists wait sometimes for clear vision or drive with fog lights on while those who could not afford to wait drive at very low speed to avoid accidents.
The season comes with its own challenges on health, skin and also the hair. Due to the dusty wind, some diseases like conjunctivitis, asthma, cough and catarrh are more frequent most especially in the North.
A nurse at a family health care (PHC) in Gwagwalada, Grace Dogara told the Home Front that people with respiratory diseases suffer more during harmattan as a result of  much dust in the air. She states that most hospitals always records higher rate of respiratory tract infection during the season.
She said that children and the elderly were vulnerable at this period and so parents and guardians should ensure their safety by keeping them indoors and making sure they are not exposed to the dust.
She explained that as a result of the dusty air, asthmatic patients have more attacks because they begin to cough and sneeze more during this season.
“We should make sure we put on sweater, and socks with head warmer when necessary. Mothers should make sure their kids are properly covered also from the cold and dust’. She stated.
Dogara advised mothers to keep their kids warm at all times during the cold season adding that “if possible, both their hands and feet should be protected as these are the first points cold enters their body’.
She further advised that kids can be  kept warm by using natural products like Shea butter or cocoa butter as they are products that keep the body warm all day long. ‘Shea butter most especially helps relieve cold,” she added.
The nurse advised that during cold seasons oils like eucalyptus oil should be kept in handy. She emphasized that Eucalyptus oil is very safe for infants, toddlers and adults alike and can be used in the bath, and can be used to massage the body.
 The health official advised that food and fruits should be properly covered and preserved in a proper manner to avoid contamination further stressing that fruits must be properly washed before being consumed.
She said mothers must ensure that the house is kept neat at all times to avoid dust coming into our homes through the doors , windows and making it gather on the furniture and other belongings.
The midwife said that herbs  can be used to treat cold and  advised that a few spices like turmeric, garlic, ginger, honey, pepper can rid cold in a matter of days without using other medication.
Aisha Musa, a mother of four said she tries as much as possible to protect her kids from catching cold because when one of them catches cold, then the rest always get infected. She also stated that she makes sure she dusts all furniture surfaces around the house every morning to reduce dust accumulation.
A hair stylist and beautician, Titi Raheem stressed the importance of keeping the skin healthy through the application of moisturisers and by putting on weather-friendly clothes.   
She advised that moisturizers and cream should be used all over the body in the morning and at night and emphasize the use of mild soaps as they will help in moisturizing the skin.
She also advised that lip balm is applied on the lip regularly to protect against the lips cracking, Mrs Raheem also said that the hair usually suffers the most during this season as it is most irritated when not cared for. She advised that the hair should be washed at least once a month with shampoo and conditioner.
According to her, when drying the hair, it shouldn’t be completely dried to retain some moisture in it and to prevent it from breaking when combing.
The beautician also stated that hair oil, and creams must be applied to the hair daily or every other day depending on hair type and severity of the weather for proper hairgrowth.