Variation in temperature between day, night may cause serious health hazards

Islamabad : A great variation in temperature between day and night being observed in this region of the country these days may cause mild to moderate health threats among the healthy population while serious complications among those suffering from heart diseases, hypertension, high blood pressure and other chronic ailments.

Studies reveal that the majority of heart patients and patients suffering from hypertension and high blood pressure have to face complications because of bad effects of cold weather conditions and the threats loom large at the time of setting in of winter. It is so mainly because most of the people including chronic patients do not take extra care at the time of setting in of winter.

A sudden fall in mercury late at night and early in the morning may cause complications for patients with coronary heart disease particularly among patients who are unaware of the bad impact of cold and chilly weather conditions on their health. In winter, vasoconstriction, the narrowing of the blood vessels resulting from contraction of the muscular wall of the vessels, may cause problems.

Health experts advise patients with coronary heart disease not to come out of homes early in the morning or late at night with uncovered nose as it may affect their health. Temperature falls to a significant level at night in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi along with peripheries surrounding the two cities and it is generally observed that the majority of the people have not started using warm clothing even at night and it may bring serious problems particularly in cases of elderly and children.

It is worth mentioning here that at the time of setting in of winter, both upper and lower respiratory tract infections take the shape of epidemic in the region every year, at the end of October and in the beginning of November. The winter is about to set in and there has not been any rainfall in the region for the last three weeks because of which the environment is filled up by a number of pollutants and dust particles carrying highly injurious chemicals.

Health experts say that to avoid health threats caused by high levels of pollution in the air, people should start using greater quantities of fluids and hot drinks like ‘Qahwa’ and ‘Yakhni’ which may help minimise the bad effects of dust particles in the air. Only rain, even a lighter one can clear the environment from pollutants and dust particles carrying toxic chemicals.

It is also important that a sharp fall in temperature particularly at night and in the morning may cause body pains among people who do not use warm clothing. Children and elderly people may suffer the bad effects of variation in temperature the most if they stay outside homes without warm clothing at night and early in the morning.

Experts say that it is time for parents to take extra care in cases of children particularly those going to schools early in the morning when temperature falls to a significant level. Children should be covered properly in warm clothes in the morning. Parents should provide quality food to children as malnourished children are more prone to catch winter-related health threats including pneumonia.