7 Ways To Protect Yourself From The Haze

Now that the haze is back, we recommend seven ways to protect yourself from the haze and keep your body in it’s best condition regardless of air quality.

The detrimental effects that haze can have on a person is dependent on his or her health as well as the duration and intensity of outdoor activity. Here are some ways to protect yourself from the hazy onslaught:

Stay Indoors

Clearly one of the best ways to battle the health effects of haze is to avoid going outdoors. Try to stay indoors as much as possible and shut the windows. Switch on the air conditioner if possible or use suitable air filters and air purifiers to remove dust particles and contaminants in the air.

Avoid Strenuous Outdoor Activities

Minimise your duration of exposure outdoors. If you have to do outdoor sports or exercises, try bringing your workout indoors or postpone it instead. Aerobic activities such as running, cycling or playing football will require deep breathing and that would mean inhaling all the harmful pollutants in the air. Those who have pre-existing chronic heart or lung conditions, or who are not feeling well, should avoid going outdoors. Even if you do not have a pre-existing condition, it is still better to be safe than sorry as excessive exposure to the minuscule dust particles can increase one’s risk of developing viral and bacterial infections.

Wear A Mask

If you must go outdoors, put on a respiratory mask. Surgical masks or paper masks do not offer any protection against the solid particles present in the air. An appropriate respiratory mask to combat the haze would be the N95 mask, which is designed to filter airborne particles and protect wearers from inhaling the haze particles. These respiratory masks are available at major pharmacies and supermarkets.

Hydrate Frequently And Increase Fibre Intake

Given that haze can irritate your throat, causing it to be dry or sore or even lead to coughing, it is essential to drink up to flush away the toxins absorbed through the skin and lungs. Eating more fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins A and C can boost your immune system. Foods rich in vitamin A include carrots, sweet potatoes and spinach and are known to protect your eyes and lungs from air pollution. Foods rich in vitamin C like oranges, kiwis and broccoli can promote lung tissue health and prevent you from catching the common flu.

Take Medication To Alleviate Symptoms

Haze can cause some adverse effects on your health which includes eye irritation, running or stuffy nose, throat irritation, headache or lung inflammation. If you experience any of these symptoms, you might want to relieve them with eye drops or cough tablets and mixtures available at pharmacies (consult your doctor first). If your symptoms worsen, do seek medical attention immediately.

Avoid Smoking

On top of all the toxins present in the hazy air, the last thing you want to do is to further irritate your lungs with cigarette smoke. Avoid smoking during this period as it will make your lungs even more sensitive to the effects of air pollutants.

Pay Attention To Air Quality Updates

Check the local environment agency’s website regularly for updates on the latest air conditions. You can visit NEA for live updates on the latest PSI readings to verify if the air quality is within a healthy PSI range.

Bearing these tips in mind, stay safe and protected from the harmful effects of the haze and hope that the air clears up soon!

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