Smog envelops plains of Pakistani Punjab during winter season. 12 Health Tips for Smog Season provide you 12 preventive measure to cope with this season to prevent from effects of smog.

Smog a coined word that has recently started coming into our consciousness. With the arrival of the winter season, smog envelops Pakistani Punjab especially Lahore. Hence it becomes hazardous to the health and safety of the people living in Lahore and surrounding areas. Before heading to know how smog is a health and safety concern? Let's know what is Smog and how does it form.

What Is Smog?

Smog is a new sort of air pollution that comprises of a mixture of smoke and fog. Rapid industrial and automobile growth has its perils, which results in air pollution. Smoke present in the air in the foggy season form smog. Hence smog, consisting of the polluting gasses and dust particles, forms a thick layer in the surroundings during the winter season. Smog causes drastic effects. It reduces visibility, health hazards, and locomotive disruption for the road as well as air traffic.

What Are The Effects Of Smog?

Smog has become a concern for a number of countries. Especially Pakistan faces heavy smog during the winter season. It engulfs plains of Punjab starting from November to early February. Smog in Punjab paralyzes the city life and cause a number of serious concerns.

Smog containing poisonous gases, ground-level ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide carbon monoxide, harms eyes, lungs, heart, and skin. It is especially dangerous for senior citizens, children, and patients with heart and lung conditions such as emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma.

Smog causes inflammation of breathing passages. Hence chokes the lungs and limits the working capacity of lungs. It further causes shortness of breath, pain while inhaling deeply, wheezing, and coughing. Smog damages eyes and results in redness eyes. Inhaling smog stimulates nose irritation and the protective membranes of the nose and throat dry out. Therefore the body becomes vulnerable to infection and disease.

12 Health Tips for Smog Season in Pakistan

• Wear Respiratory Masks

Smog is a form of air pollution and it enters the body while breathing and inhaling air. Hence poisonous gasses and dust particles enter into the nose and lungs. This stimulates nose and throat irritation and causes serious damage to the lungs and heart. Therefore it is a must to wear a good surgical mask while outdoor activities as compared directly inhaling smoggy air. It is also recommended that outdoor activities should be limited during smog season unless necessary.

• Use Honey in Daily Diet

Smog affects the eyes, throat, lungs, and heart. It also causes whooping cough, shortness of breath, vulnerability to other diseases. Honey eases cough and enhances immunity. By daily using honey in the diet enhances immunity and stamina. You can either drink honey water daily before breakfast or use honey in breakfast.

• Take Teas and Qehwa

During Smog Season take hot drinks, milk tea, lemongrass tea, honey tea, and Qehwas. The addition of Cinnamon and Mint within teas and Qehwas also mitigate the effects of Smog.

• Drink Plenty of Water

Smog dries out water within the body. Therefore it is recommended to drink plenty of water. Water Intake will balance the dehydration. Water itself purifies the body and removes toxins through excretion.

• Go Green

Smog results from air pollution. Hence planting trees is necessary. Trees help filter the environment and remove toxic gasses. Therefore we must go green and plant more trees around us.

• Avoid Out Door Activities

Smog penetrates the body through breathing. Therefore it is recommended to limit outdoor activities unless necessary. Avoid the places where the traffic jams and try to shelter in shady places.

• Use Fog Lights while driving

While driving close the car or vehicle windows and use fog lights. Smog forms a thick layer that decreases the visibility level of the naked eyes. Fog lights help while driving and prevent accidents.

• Wear Glass for Eye Protection

If it is unavoidable to drive, Motor bikers and cyclists must wear protective glasses for eyes and masks. Smog badly affects eyes and causes redness and allergy.

• Keep Your Windows Shut

While driving vehicles, you must keep your windows shut in order to prevent smog from entering into vehicles.

• Keep Indoor Plants

Smog even infiltrates houses through windows and exhausts fans. Therefore, keep indoor plants to clean the environment.

• Use Air Purifiers

Use air purifiers at home and offices in order to clean the environment.

• Avoid Smoking

Smoking is harmful even in a normal environment but in smog season its harmful effect multiples. Therefore it is recommended to avoid smoking.