The MENA region has been hit lately with unruly weather, dust storms and a heat wave with extreme temperatures between 45-50 degrees, and then there are thunderstorms, hail and heavy rain that have even caused devastating flash floods in some areas of Saudi Arabia. High summer temperatures are normal for the area but are still very difficult to bear for many. Not only do these high temperatures make it difficult to go on with day to day errands, chores and work schedules, it’s the dust that is causing allergies with symptoms such as sneezing, irritant cough, breathlessness, nose bleeds, itchy eyes, stuffy nose and sinuses causing headaches. Between 500 million and five billion tons of dust moves around the planet every year, each gram of dust carries millions of bacterial cells.
Dust particles take days to settle and almost everyone is prone to getting affected by the dust hanging in the air, add humidity to the mix too, you’ve literally got a mess at your hand. During such times, the Kingdom’s General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection steps up its early warning systems and advance warnings are issued in areas that will be hit with such disturbances. Physicians warn patients to take precautionary measures and medications such as antihistamines ahead of time as dusty air with stuffed nose can lead to more serious problems such as that of the lungs. There are a few interesting tips that can be performed to decrease the severity of allergy infections for some individuals:
- Wash your hair at night since allergens can be trapped in your hair.
- Wash clothes, bed sheets, bathroom rugs and shower curtains (since dust can seep through the ventilation systems) in warm/hot water.
- Always carry water to keep from being dehydrated.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes so as not to be infected with eye infections.
- Wipe surfaces with dry wipes first then warm soapy water to remove any residue.
- Change clothes as soon as you arrive back home.
- Don face masks when outside.
- Gargling and inhaling warm steam morning and night will also decrease chances of irritating the nasal cavity and respiratory system.
For those who would rather not use medications, as suggested by their physician, a more natural remedy that works just as good as medications for stuffed nose is the neti pot. For those who suffer from nasal irritation caused by dust storms, this method is an effective way to help the nose and nasal cavity. You can find a neti pot at pharmacies and drug stores or among household items that look like children’s sippy cups or small teapots with a narrow spout. Add sterilized warm water mixed well with some non-iodized salt and you’ve got a natural remedy to relieve stuffy nose. Insert the spout into one of your nostrils, slowly tilt your head to the side and down so that the nostril with the inserted spout is high up. Begin tilting the pot and water and you’ll feel a slightly burning sensation as the salt water begins to fill the upper nostril, flowing into your sinuses breaking the mucus stuffed inside the cavity and out the other nostril in a steady stream. Don’t be surprised if you see mucus flowing out, the burning sensation is what causes the mucus to “melt” out.
Such an unexpected change in the weather, where the environment is loaded with dust particles, can increase the chances for more viral problems such as pharyngitis, strep throat, eye infections, viral sinusitis, allergic rhinitis and asthma rhinitis (inflammation and irritation of the mucus inside nose and respiratory allergy), fever and in extreme cases severe asthma attacks. The best mechanism to prevent all this is to stay home during dust storms, make sure doors and windows are locked, rolling wet towels under windows and doors can help prevent fine dust from seeping into homes.
Those who are especially vulnerable to dust include infants, young children, pregnant women, seniors, asthmatics, people with bronchitis, emphysema or respiratory conditions, construction workers, smokers, cleaners, big-rig and transit drivers, airport ground control workers, athletes working outdoors, agricultural workers and many more individuals who are at risk. Wearing protective gear for the eyes, nose and mouth provides some protection from large particles but not from particles less than PM10, fine microbial dust particles. Protective policies by companies must take place to protect all outdoor workers, dust stays a few days after dust storms pass, so stay up to date with the latest from official meteorological agencies.
We’re still in the middle of the summer season. August isn’t the easiest of months especially with the turbulent weather the Kingdom is experiencing these past few days. The easiest and best way to decrease your chances of infection is to check the weather on a daily basis, always have water at hand, take your medications and inhalers and stay at home.
Rawan Radwan - Arab News
