By Cosmas Omegoh
As everyone continues to experience cold weather conditions this season, medical experts are handing out useful tips to survive the times and stay off the harm’s way.
Experts who spoke to Sunday Sun want people to up their hygiene levels and ensure they cover themselves more properly especially at night times, in addition to taking warm foods and liquids.
They also encouraged families to pay particular attention to the care of their younger and older ones by ensuring they are adequately covered with arm, dry clothing.
About this time every year, a peculiar spell of coldness prevails; it characterises the current rainy season.
Starting from late July, for instance, the rains take a break; this change lasts through the month of August. Then in early September, the rains begin again and relentlessly push for the peak.
Often referred to as August break, the condition marks a temporary cessation of the rains – sometimes for days longer than one month.
The period offers opportunities for people hitherto prevented by intense rainfall to indulge in a series of outdoor activities.
Now, in the Lagos area especially, the weather is relatively cold in the afternoons even when the sun is high up in the sky. Only few bouts of drizzles are sometimes experienced. Last year, many people learnt that this condition is referred to Aphelion phenomenon.
According to Wikipedia, “Aphelion is an annual phenomenon when the Earth is farthest away from the Sun.” It notes that “since the Earth rotates in an elliptical orbit, the distance between the Sun and Earth varies through the year.”
Wikipedia in another article says Aphelion is “an astronomical term which refers to the point the orbit of a planet or comet or (any) other body is most distant from the Sun.”
It added that “when the Earth is at its Aphelion in early July, it is about 4,800,000 kms farther from the Sun than when at its Perihelion in early January.”
Last year, Aphelion phenomenon, it was predicted, began late in July and lasted till late August.
The occurrence, many can still remember, caused a significant decrease in weather condition, leading to daily temperature falling below the usual level not only in Nigeria, but elsewhere around the world.
About this time every year, therefore, the decrease in weather condition is accompanied by some health challenges – “common cold, aches, stuffy throat, fever, cough, and breathing problems.”
It is a period everyone is advised to strengthen their “immune system, with vitamins and their healthy food products.”
According to Sunday Sun observation, this year’s August break began earlier in July, signaling that it might either last a little longer than usual or heavy rainfall might follow in the month of August.
At the moment, dry, cold, windy weather prevails.
Based on the ongoing, medical experts, Dr Osaze Odenwigie, based in Benin City and Dr Uche Marcus based in Lagos have been speaking on ways people can conduct themselves this season to ensure good, healthy living .
Both experts admitted that the current cold weather condition can be potentially challenging for everyone not just the young and the elderly.
“This period is medically challenging,” Dr Odenwigie told our correspondent, saying, “but the aged and the younger ones are more at risk.
“Usually, this period encourages various kinds of diseases associated with cold to fester.
“And for this reason, everyone – including the young and the aged – needs to be properly covered especially at night.
“It is advised that people wear dry clothes; the kids need to be covered with cardigan.
“As for the little ones who cannot talk for now, we need the temperature around us to understand what is going on around them. We need to sense when the temperature is cold and quickly get them covered.
“This is time to stay warm and in clean environment. Everyone must strive to raise their hygiene levels at times like this. Make it top notch.”
Dr Odenwigie reminded everyone that since the rainy season is here, grasses will usually continue to grow around the homes. At the same time, there are greater chances pools of stagnant water might gather somewhere around the home. These need to be avoided.
“An environment like that encourages mosquitoes to grow and multiply. Once mosquitoes find themselves into the home, we risk contracting malaria.”
He also strongly advised that food hygiene must be observed, adding that food and water this time need to be served warm.
“When food is left cold, it can turn out to be a breeding ground for some bacteria and fungi to grow.
“Everyone is encouraged to eat their normal foods and water. But make them warm as much as possible. That is important at this time. People should make what they eat and drink warm to avoid common cold which might lead to other illness.”
Now, individuals who live in houses with tiled floors might have been noticing how cold the floors are becoming on late.
Some persons spoken to had expressed fears that the persistent coldness of such floors might be a conduit to transmit cold to their body and lead them to contract pneumonia.
Although both experts admitted that cold floors cannot necessarily be a source of pneumonia, buy they can be avenues to transmit common cold and possible other illnesses to their body.
“One cannot necessarily contract pneumonia by placing their feet on cold floors,” Dr Odenwigie counseled, adding that”that is entirely a different thing. Pneumonia is caused by an organism rather than cold.”
Equally, Dr Marcus noted that pneumonia is caused by micro organisms other than cold, but warned that people should help themselves by avoid placing their feet on cold floors for too long.
“Pneumonia is caused by micro organisms as against the cold that emanates from a particular environment.
“However, it is important that we know that this cold season can be potentially dangerous.
“A number of illnesses get worse when the body is exposed to cold weather. Therefore, placing the feet for long on cold floors this time is not good for anyone. That is an avenue for cold to be transmitted into the body. Depending on the health status of the individual, doing so can see them landing in hospital for one health challenge or the other.
“This cold weather is encouraging to various disease-causing micro organisms. This is a good time for them to be active.”
He, therefore, advised everyone to get themselves foot wears that could be worn inside the home or thick stockings to keep them warm while relaxing at home.
“The period is challenge for everyone,” he said, adding “we need to be very careful so as to come out of it without any health issues.”