The haze has become such a familiar occurrence in Malaysia that it could very well be one of the country's seasons.

No thanks to forest fires raging across Sumatra and Riau in Indonesia, Malaysians are yet again, finding themselves not only with limited visibility, but also down with symptoms like breathing difficulty, dry/sore through, dry irritant cough and sneezing, as well as blocked or runny nose and itchy, red eyes, among others.

Here are some quick tips to survive the suffocating smog.

1) Stay indoors/ use indoor air purifiers

- Avoid going outdoors, unless absolutely necessary. If you have to go out, make sure all the doors and windows are closed to keep the smog out. Once back home, turn on the indoor air purifier to filter the air. If you don't have a purifier, boil water in a deep dish and let the steam fill the room. This will help clear the air you breathe.

2) Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

- Drinking enough water is key to fight off the haze and the symptoms it causes. You have to consume at least 2 litres daily to ensure the toxins you end up absorbing from the haze are properly flushed out and ensure you are properly hydrated.

3) Stay off coffee and alcohol

Caffeine and alcohol causes dehydration, so it is best to stay away from these during the haze season. Consuming these can put your kidneys under added stress, and lead to other health complications.

4) Eat healthy

- A healthy diet is equally important to combat the effects of haze. Consume a lot of fruits and vegetables if you find yourself down with runny or itchy throat, and ensure the food you consume have the needed vitamins and nutrients to help fight off infections that comes from inhaling hazy air.

5) Equip yourself well

- A face mask (a proper one such as N95 recommended), water bottle, tissue, wet wipes and eye drops are a few must-have things if you have to be out and about in the haze. Once you get indoors, make sure to wash your face and hands thoroughly, or take a shower to prevent the harmful toxins in the hazy air from seeping into your body through your skin.

6) Stop smoking

- There's enough smoke outside. Don't contribute to it further and worsen your respiratory system at the same time.

7) See a doctor

- If you find yourself down with any of the haze-related symptoms, do not hesitate to see a doctor. A delay in getting your medical issues attended to could lead to more complicated problems. Once you see a doctor, make sure to follow his/her advice in taking precautions/medications afterwards. It is better to be safe than sorry.

8) Refrain from open burning

- Again, there is enough smoke in the air. Don't make it worse by burning your unwanted stuff outdoor.

9) Turn your car lights on

- In case you find the visibility very low while driving, please turn on your car lights, even if it's in the afternoon. Being visible is crucial to avoid being a traffic accident statistic.

Hope these tips can help readers to weather this haze period and stay safe!


Source: medicalopinionasia.com, absoluteservices.com.sg, doe.gov.my
Photo source: Malaysiakini