Fog is a common phenomenon during the winter season. Besides reducing visibility and posing dangers when driving, fog can also affect human health, especially when it contains many pollutants and lingers throughout the day.
The Dangers of Winter Fog to Human Health
1. The Impact of Fog on Health
Fog is a phenomenon where water vapor rises high in the atmosphere and condenses into tiny water droplets that float in the air, particularly close to the ground. It is noteworthy that fog in urban areas is at high risk of containing many harmful substances due to environmental pollution, which can severely impact human health.
Here are a few effects of fog on health:
The moisture in fog can affect the respiratory system
If fog appears densely, individuals with respiratory issues, such as asthma, may feel discomfort or experience worsening symptoms.
The reason fog affects the human respiratory system is that breathing air in fog means your lungs are exposed to cold, moisture-laden air. This can cause chills and irritation leading to coughing and a runny nose. In individuals with weak immunity or pre-existing respiratory conditions, fog can lead to more serious respiratory issues.
Additionally, if fog occurs in a polluted environment, fine dust or impurities can easily enter the lungs or respiratory tract, causing inflammation and irritation. For instance, sulfur often has higher concentrations in foggy air and can cause bronchoconstriction.
Breathing air in fog can cause chills and irritation such as coughing and a runny nose. (Image: Internet).
Polluted fog can cause eye pain
Fog in polluted environments can easily irritate the inner membranes of the eyes, leading to eye infections, pain, swelling, and redness. Prolonged exposure to foggy air can cause discomfort and itching in the eyes.
Fog can worsen joint pain
Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis often experience increased joint pain on foggy days. This is because colder temperatures combined with humidity from fog can cause joint stiffness and exacerbate symptoms. Furthermore, low air pressure causes already inflamed tissues to expand, intensifying pain.
In addition to the weather impact, people tend to be less active in winter, leading to stiff and less flexible joints, which causes surrounding muscles and tissues to tighten and result in increased discomfort.
Fog can impact heart health
The humidity from winter fog in the early morning can make individuals with heart disease feel more uncomfortable. This is especially true for older adults, who often have poor circulation due to age, and are at higher risk for heart failure on foggy mornings.
Moreover, lower temperatures can cause blood vessels to constrict. This means that your heart must work harder to pump blood throughout your body. As fog takes away your body’s warmth, it causes your heart rate and blood pressure to rise as your heart has to work harder to perform its functions.
Fog and low temperatures cause blood vessels to constrict and make the heart work harder. (Image: Internet).
Fog can affect mood
Individuals with seasonal depression often feel worse on foggy days, especially when the fog caused by pollution can last for half the day. The gloomy air without sunlight leads to feelings of fatigue and sadness.
2. Who Should Be More Cautious When Foggy Weather Occurs?
Everyone should be cautious when exposed to polluted fog. However, certain groups should exercise more caution due to their vulnerability to the effects of fog:
- Young children
- Older adults
- Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- Those with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Individuals with heart disease
3. Some Health Protection Tips During Foggy Weather
To prevent the adverse effects of fog on health, individuals should follow these recommendations:
Wear a mask properly when going outside
Wearing a mask helps prevent inhaling cold air, harmful dust, smoke, carbon monoxide, and other particles. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend using N95 masks.
However, patients with cardiovascular or chronic lung diseases may experience shortness of breath and oxygen deprivation due to the increased respiratory resistance caused by wearing such masks. Therefore, these patients should stay indoors more, and if they need to go outside, they should opt for a car instead of a motorcycle or bicycle.
Maintain personal hygiene
Washing your face, gargling, using eye drops, and cleaning your nasal passages can help remove pollutants from your body after being outside. It’s best to wash your face with warm water to cleanse fine particles effectively. Use a damp cotton swab to clean your nasal passages and saline solution to rinse your eyes.
Limit outdoor exercise when there is fog and pollution
On days with dense fog and poor air quality, you should exercise indoors and limit outdoor activities.
Avoid exercising outdoors when there is a lot of fog and pollution. (Image: Internet).
Stay indoors more
Limiting outside exposure is the most effective way to avoid contact with fog and polluted air. If the air quality is good, the fog will dissipate quickly, and you can participate in outdoor activities soon. However, if air pollution is severe, such as in urban areas, the fog may linger longer, and you should stay indoors more.
Ensure indoor air quality
Outdoor air pollution can be significantly worse when fog occurs. Therefore, avoid opening windows until the air is cleaner. Use a vacuum cleaner to clean carpets, sofas, and floors. Air purifiers can also be used to improve humidity and help make the indoor air fresher.
Additionally, avoid smoking or cooking meals that produce a lot of smoke indoors. This will further pollute the air in your home.
Build a healthy diet to boost immunity
Everyone should incorporate foods rich in vitamins, such as fruits and vegetables. In particular, drink more water to avoid dehydration – a common cause of dry skin and chapped lips in winter.
Overall, fog and environmental pollution pose many dangers to human health. However, with some of the above measures, you can protect your health and prevent illness.
