Coping with the harmattan

                                          

Harmattan is here again. It is one of the seasons in Nigeria but it usually comes around the Christmas period and lasts till the New Year.

The harmattan weather can be very cold, dry and dusty. One should expect heavy winds and chilly weather in the morning. The northern part of the country is worst hit by the cold weather this period.

Experts also add that there are many health challenges that 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 in order to avoid being exposed to cold weather-related problems in the morning.

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 joints 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 morning.

Another physician at the Public Health Department of the 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 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 the bacterial or viral infections that cause problems in the lungs, throat, nose or ear.

“It first starts with trivial illnesses such as 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, such as cracking of lips or cold, dry skin, catarrh and cough. It’s important to stay safe and healthy, especially because really cold temperatures bring risks. Please look after yourself and follow these cautions 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 way 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 home, 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.

Moisturise your skin

The cold weather can be particularly harsh on the skin if you don’t protect it appropriately, leaving you looking dull, tired and even older.

It’s important to bear in mind the effects of having to keep warm on the skin this period. While it might leave you feeling warmer, it can also dry out the skin. Unless your skin is properly hydrated, it can’t repair itself properly, meaning that every little irritation could become a bigger problem.

Heavy wind during cold weather can remove the UV filtering lipids from the skin, accelerating sunburn. This is why it’s essential to make up for the loss of these lipids with creams that block the sun’s UV rays.

Of course, if you don’t protect your skin from the cold, you run the risk of developing skin conditions later in life and there could be more serious consequences that arise from not protecting your skin, such as cancer of the skin.

Keeping a lip balm in your pocket, car and handbag for constant applications will keep chapped, dry lips at bay.

Eat soup and hot foods

Eating hot soup is the best answer of all to the cold weather, because not only does it warm you up, it also fills your belly. Coffee and cocoa are also good at warming you up, but they don’t do quite as good a job at filling your belly.

Eating hot food would also ensure that bacteria and virus do not thrive in your belly.

Finally, you must not forget to stay hydrated by drinking loads and loads of water.