What You Need to Know About Harmattan

 By OMODELE Goodness 

In the temperate and subpolar regions of the earth, there are four seasons in a year: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In the tropical and subtropical regions, of which Nigeria is one, there are only two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season, also known as Harmattan.

According to Wikipedia, harmattan is a season in West Africa from late November to mid-March. It is marked by a dry, dusty northeasterly trade wind that blows from the Sahara across West Africa towards the Gulf of Guinea. Temperatures during this season are generally cold at night in some areas but can become quite hot in certain regions during the day.

According to research, just as certain health challenges accompany the rainy season, there are also health issues associated with the dry season/ harmattan.

During harmattan, various health issues can arise due to cold and dusty conditions including the following:

Respiratory Allergies: Harmattan poses respiratory challenges due to the high dust particles in the air. These particles can irritate the respiratory system, potentially leading to sneezing, coughing, pneumonia, nasal bleeding, and congestion. 

 The dry season causes dry skin, cracked lips, and feet. 

Dust exposure can irritate the eyes, leading to itching, redness, and a sensation of foreign objects in the eyes.  

Sickle Cell Anemia: The dry, cold winds associated with the harmattan season can trigger sickle cell crises due to reduced blood oxygen levels in the air.

Foodborne Diseases: Dust increases the risk of food contamination and consequently the risk of foodborne diseases.

Dehydration: Increased fluid intake is crucial due to water loss through breathing, sweating, and urination. Harmattan can also cause sore throats, frequent sneezing, watery eyes, headaches, catarrh, and cough.

Tips To Stay Healthy During the Harmattan Season:

Stay Hydrated: Dehydration and frequent thirst are common during Harmattan. It is better to avoid carbonated drinks and juices and drink at least 1.5 litres of water daily to keep the body functioning well.

Adjust Your Outfits: Harmattan weather can be hot and sunny in the afternoon but chilly at night. To stay comfortable, it is advisable, especially for sickle cell patients, to wear warm clothing in the evenings and mornings. As the day warms up, it is better to switch to lighter clothing to stay cool. Also, using protective eyewear that helps in limiting dust exposure is recommended.

Boost Your Vitamin C Intake: Vitamin C can help reduce the risk of catching colds or catarrh. With dust and cold prevalent during harmattan, taking vitamins, in general, can strengthen your body’s defences.

Keep Lip Balm and Moisturizer Handy: Dry skin and chapped lips are common during Harmattan. Keep lip balm, moisturiser or petroleum jelly within reach, such as in your bag or pocket. Apply lip balm when your lips feel dry and moisturise your skin as needed, to keep them healthy.

Precautions for Asthma Patients: The dusty winds during Harmattan can trigger asthma attacks. Asthmatics should avoid dusty areas, carry inhalers, and wear a face mask when exposure to dust is unavoidable.

Hair Care for ladies with 4C Hair: Harmattan can lead to dry ends and breakage, especially for those with 4C hair. Protective hairstyles like braids and scarves can help protect the hair, and regular moisturising keeps it healthy.

Food Hygiene: Food contamination is common during the Harmattan season, because of this, it is essential to carry out proper food preservation, thorough washing of fruits and vegetables, and covering drinking water to prevent illnesses. It is also advisable to consume foods when they are hot to ease respiratory discomfort and keep the body warm.

With the peculiarities of the Harmattan season, it is possible to stay healthy. With these tips, you can enjoy the goodness of the weather as the year wraps up.