After the haze hit Singapore in 1994, Ms Edna Chia(47) was diagnosed with asthma.
She recalled:
“I didn’t have asthma in my childhood. I had not even heard of it.”
It started with a cough, which persisted for months, and worsened into wheezing and breathing difficulties. When she was finally diagnosed with asthma, she was in hospital for about 10 days. She now takes medication daily.
This is the hidden danger for such people from haze – a mixture of suspended particles, water vapour, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and other chemicals.
How does haze affects the body?
Nose:
- During inhalation, particles and chemicals irritate the nose, which secretes mucus to flush out the particles.
- As more mucus is produced, the nasal passage becomes blocked and the nose swells.
- The reaction is magnified in
people who have allergic rhinitis,
Airways and lungs:
- Particles inflame the airways and the lungs as they travel downwards.
- Airways and lungs produce phlegm to try to get rid of the particles.
- Then spasm to provoke a cough to expel the foreign matter.
- As phlegm narrows the airways, more phlegm is produced, creating a vicious circle.
Even people without chronic respiratory problems can suffer from breathlessness because of Haze particles
Children are more vulnerable as they breathe faster, have a higher metabolic rate and have lungs that are still developing, said Dr Ong Thun How, a consultant at Singapore General Hospital’s respiratory and critical care medicine department.
HEART:
- With the nose and airways inflamed, the body is under stress and the heart pumps faster, increasing the blood pressure.
- The body also releases chemicals that make blood clot more easily.
- Higher blood pressure and the formation of blood clots can cause a heart attack, stroke or heart failure in those who have coronary heart disease or whose hearts are already beginning to fail.
Eyes
- Particles and chemicals can cause burning sensations, irritate the eye into tearing to clean itself and inflame the conjunctiva, the surface layer on the white of the eyeball.
- Those with a history of dry, sensitive eyes and allergic conjunctivitis are most at risk.
- The inflammation of the conjunctiva worsens dry eyes and adds to existing inflammation from allergic conjunctivitis. Any eye swelling can be reduced by placing a warm towel over the eyes for a minute or two. If the symptoms worsen or become severe, see an ophthalmologist, who may prescribe medications such as topical steroids.
Skin:
- The haze should have little effect on healthy skin, said Dr Steven Thng, consultant dermatologist at the National
Skin Centre. - But those with eczema – “asthma of the skin” – may find it becoming itchy and inflamed, he said.
Haze effects on pregnancy:
- exposure to high pollution levels during pregnancy could cause your child to be born with autism.
- It can also cause low birth weight, premature birth and other birth complications.
- Concentrated levels of ozone and carbon monoxide in the air have also been linked to birth defects like cleft palates and heart problems.
References:
http://www.healthxchange.com.sg/News/Pages/Haze-Hazard.aspx