We at Natural Health sincerely hope that by the time you read this, the haze that has been blanketing our country would have subsided. In the event however, that it has not, here are a few tips to help keep your family and you better protected from its harsh effects.
Stay Indoors As Much As Possible
Yes, as Malaysians, we just love our outdoor time, but let’s be practical for now, seeing that the quality of our outdoor air is so poor. While this advice is for everyone, children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those suffering from chronic illnesses, especially heart and respiratory disease, should not be spending time outdoors, no matter what. Tell mom that her gardening will have to wait! Even among healthy adults, spending time outdoors with unnecessary activities should be avoided, for your own good. If you’re used to exercising outdoors, keep reminding yourself why you’re exercising in the first place – for the outdoor air quality at the moment isn’t going to help you achieve your main objective of exercising, which is to maintain your health!
Take Extra Care If You Have An Existing Health Issue
If you are currently on medications for heart issues or respiratory issues, now is not the time to skip them! Take them on time and pay extra attention to your health and wellbeing. If you experience shortness of breath at any point, contact your doctor at once just to be safe. If your health is already an issue, the best thing for you to do during these times of thick haze is to keep indoors as much as you can.
Keep doors and windows shut for now
There really is no point in staying indoors if the polluted air outside can still find its way into your home, office, etc. for that reason, it would be best to keep all doors and windows shut to keep your indoor air as clean as unpolluted as possible. A point to keep in mind though is that it can get uncomfortable warm and stuffy indoors with no fresh air circulating, whereby switching on your air conditioner may be a necessity for now.
KEEP AIR CONDITIONERS AND AIR PURIFIERS IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION
Ensure that these machines are in good working order so that you can make the most of them. Service them if needed and keep the filters clean too. If you are staying in a building with a central air conditioning system, install an air cleaning device. This helps to reduce the amount of air contaminants that may be circulating in the building.
An air purifier will come in handy
While air purifiers are nothing new to Malaysian consumers, it’s all the more crucial to have them switched on now, to help clean out your indoor air. An air purifier will help keep the number of particles in the air low and minimise the risk of respiratory issues among the vulnerable and sickly, not to mention prevent the healthy from falling sick. Depending on how big your home (or office) is, and how many rooms there are, you may need more than one unit to make a difference to the indoor air that you breathe in.
Stay well hydrated
We may be sounding like a broken recording machine with this one but… drinking more water during this time will be of great help in flushing out the toxins that your body has absorbed through your skin and lungs. Increasing your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables will also be a great health boost in improving your immune system. These contain anti-inflammatory nutrients which will help reduce inflammation that may be triggered by harmful fine particles in the air. Cut down on alcohol and coffee too, as these contain caffeine which promote fluid loss – they also tend to rob nutrients from the body.
Avoid driving if visibility is bad
When visibility is severely limited by the haze, avoid driving. If you really do need to drive, resist speeding. When driving through thick haze with low visibility, don’t forget to wind up all the windows, turn on the headlight and avoid changing lanes, passing and crossing traffic. Increase your following distance and stay alert all the way to your destination. Otherwise, we’re lucky to have ample public transport to get around – don’t forget to don your face masks though!
LIMIT THE FOLLOWING:
- Smoking indoors (need we remind you of all the obvious reasons why?)
- Using the gas stove
- Burning candles and/or incense
We recommend limiting the above for they all emit smoke, which, when trapped in an enclosed space for too long, can be dangerous for the human health.
If the haze is severe
Under severe haze condition, wear a respirator mask whenever you need to be outdoors. They are more effective compared to other types of face masks as they seal better and restrict more polluted air from entering the nose and mouth. They also come with the right filter to remove fine particles found in a haze. Some people may need to use it indoors too, especially if they experience haze-related conditions breathing issues – In any case, consult with your doctor if you have trouble breathing at anytime during this hazy period.
