We are in that period of the year that harmattan hits hard to the point we wish it could just go away.
The cold is building up and harshness of the weather is also increasing. You sleep fine, yet there is this harshness you feel in your nostril when you breathe.
Waking up in the morning in some Nigerian state, feels like you are in the western world.
The haze is even increasing, with the breeze knocking at doors and windows.
Really, sometimes, the harmattan is different from what we have experienced in the past few years.
Harmattan is a period where the wind changes and Africans begin to feel the cold breeze from Europe that travels through the desert.
Early mornings are cold like someone turned on air-conditioner for everyone.
If this cold is this much in Lagos, we wonder how high it will be in northern cities.
The increased breeze shows increase in the level of oxygen.
Sadly, this level of oxygen is not what our nostril is used to. So, there is bound to be an adverse effect.
Some of the effects that you should expect as listed by our health coach are; highlighted below.
1. Harmattan Causes Dryness Of The Skin
This skin will be losing water and this will increase dehydration.
It highlights the more reason you should increase the intake of water.
Our body, especially adults, is over 60% water, but the harmattan will make this percentage drop except you consciously do something – Drink water.
2. Cough And Catarrh
One thing that goes with this weather is dust from the desert and it travels all the way from the north to every city.
This condition often triggers cough and catarrh.
Sadly, another reason this occurs is the poor hygiene practice in Nigeria. Bacteria could easily travel with the wind from far distance to your location.
3. Could Cause Cold-related Diseases For Children
Furthermore, children who are not properly immunised against pneumonia could get infected as a result of the cold.
This is often so because some parents will forget to dress their children up before they got to bed.
Find some clothes that could cover cold and make them put it on before they go to bed.
Using blanket or duvet may not be the best solution since they could remove it while you are fast asleep.
4. Skin Could Peel
Ehen! It has been said that this is a time to pick a wife, since the harmattan will expose the skin as it is.
Funny as that is, people often come off with cracked lips during this period. Sometimes even when you use lip-balm, the lips will still crack.
Often, you will find people whose skin peels or whose feet tear as a result of the harsh weather.
The dryness is as a result of the fact that the skin is getting less water than it should.
5. It Is Hard To Keep The Dust Away
Again, your furniture and other things, including your meals are exposed to dust and this is often not easy to keep away.
Even with the windows totally shut, you will still find traces of it. We recommended a solution to this, as you read.
What To Do To Get Relief From Harmattan
1. Drink More Water
Water is life and this is just a time this is so true. But really, we know it could be boring drinking just water.
Because of this, we recommend different ways to get the amount of water your body needs.
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Interestingly, most of the fruits and vegetables that we have contain a reasonable amount of water.
Add them to your meal.
Lettuce for instance contains 95% water. Cucumber also contains more. You can also eat watermelon and get the amount of water your body needs.
These fruits and vegetables will help your skin re-hydrate and look fresh even during this harmattan.
Milk
You can also add milk to the water and serve your family. This will make drinking water more interesting for everyone.
2. Fortify Your Immune System
This is a time to eat foods that will boost your immune system against infection.
Consume fruits and vegetables more. These foods contain vitamins and minerals that your body needs to fight infections.
One way to fortify your immune system is to add turmeric, garlic, ginger to your milk and drink. Forget about how it takes of smells. Your health is the most important thing in this 2020.
3. Ward-off The Cold
Sadly, very many homes are without heater in Nigeria and the cold often hit older persons and children more.
For these category of persons, there is the need to keep the cold away. You know that even when you shut the window, the cold still finds its way into your home.
Fortunately, there is something you can do.
Get the kind of candle we prepare with beeswax and light them every night to keep your home warm. Kindly let us know if you want this candles.
You can also find candles in glasses and light them in your home. They will help keep you and your family warm.
4. Purify The Air At Harmattan
Since infection could come through the air we breathe this time, there is need to purify the air in your home.
One way to do this is to add essential oils to the candles as they burn. This is where Beeswax candle works perfectly well. It purifies air even without essential oils.
Purifying the air will help ensure that your respiratory system gets the good air it it should.
Also, it will reduce the children’s exposure to infection.
5. Use Warm Water Bag To Ease Harmattan Cold
Combining warm water bag and essential oils help also to keep the body warm.
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All you need to do is to fill the pack with warm water, apply your essential oils on a handkerchief, place it on your body, and drop the warm water bag on it for a while. After that, place the warm water bag on the bed and sleep.
You will surely wake up in the morning strong and better.
6. Use More Natural Cream
Really, this is not a time to rub all your medicated creams.
To help your skin stay moisturised, you need a kind of cream that can nourish the skin while also protecting it from the effect of the harmattan harshness.
For this reason, we recommend the use natural creams made from from Ori or Okuma, (Shea butter).
These tips are really essential now to help keep your home safe and free from the illnesses that could travel with the harmattan.
Kindly share this article with your friends and loved ones to help them know how to stay safe from the harshness of harmattan.
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