Were you as shocked as I was a couple of days ago when I woke up to the “sudden” cold, the dryness in the air, and the dust? I bet you were! It seems like the harmattan is back, or what exactly is going on, you may wonder?
Research shows we may be experiencing the harmattan haze. Harmattan haze is an atmospheric condition that occurs when there is a build-up of smoke, dust, and other dry particles in the air.
According to the United Nations, the quality of air is actually very bad. The Air Quality Index is 401 and rated “Hazardous”.
Harmattan haze causes air pollution which may result in a range of health issues like respiratory problems, eye irritations, skin irritations, dehydration amongst others. It is therefore essential that you know how to protect your health and that of your family this season.
Precautions are necessary to reduce the negative effect of the haze on you. Here some ideas-
– Stay hydrated. This cannot be overemphasized. You want to drink lots of water to stay hydrated because harmattan haze can be very dry and it causes irritation to your respiratory system. You can also take warm liquids e.g the RIDA Artemisia or Eucalyptus tea to help warm your throat.
– Wear protective clothing: you will do yourself a lot of good by wearing clothing that cater for the weather, such as long sleeves tops/shirts, trousers. This will help cover your skin and prevent dust particles on your body. Also, wear sunglasses to shield your eyes from dust and sunlight.
– Keep your home clean in order to avoid dust particles and allergens accumulating around you. Do not use brooms that would stir up dust, rather use damp cloth to wipe surfaces.
– Avoid outdoor activities if possible. Always wear a face mask to filter the dust particles and avoid exercising outdoors.
– Ample application of moisturizer on the skin is good. It keeps skin hydrated. Also, lip balms are a good one this season to prevent clapped lips.
– If you have respiratory diseases like asthma or bronchitis, you should seek medical advice on how to manage your symptoms. A nasal spray will be very handy this season.
– RIDA Herbal Bitters is a great natural health partner to have with you this season. RIDA Bitters does the key work of eliminating Oxidative Stress and boosting your immunity so you don’t come down with flu or different health issues. It helps to increase your body’s levels of antioxidants and decrease the formation of free radicals. RIDA Bitters helps your body begin to recover and repair whatever damage was earlier done to it, keeping you healthy, fit and full of life to live your dreams.
Harmattan haze can have severe effects on your health if left unattended. Prevention has always been better than cure, therefore be cautious
