Patients of COPD, bronchitis, asthma and allergy need special care

Rawalpindi
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, bronchitis and allergy have been suffering from a number of complications because of a prolonged spell of dry chilly weather in the region and to avoid these, they must take additional care.
The patients having problems with their lungs have to suffer most due to dry chilly weather as the dry cold air constricts the air ways in the respiratory tract making it difficult for the patients with damaged lungs to breathe normally, said Professor of Medicine at Rawalpindi Medical College Dr. Shoaib Shafi while talking to ‘The News’ on Sunday.
He explained that the COPD causes contraction of lungs in most of the cases and after constriction of airways due to cold air; the patients with COPD suffer with great difficulty in breathing.
After the setting in of winter and cold chilly weather, the number of patients with complications of respiratory tract infections and COPD has increased to a significant extent and it is so because most of the chronic patients do not take preventive measures well in time, he said.
He added that majority of patients being presented at the outpatients departments of the allied hospitals are with bronchitis, asthma, COPD, allergy and pneumonia along with patients having skin problems.
To a query, he said both the chronic patients and healthy persons must cover their heads and chests with warm clothing when outside in extreme cold particularly early in the morning and in the evening and night. Exposure to cold for prolonged duration must be avoided and COPD patients should not stay outside homes or in open in the evening and night, said Professor Shoaib.
He said in the existing weather conditions, excessive use of oily foodstuff should be avoided. Fruits and vegetables should be taken and if possible, fresh juices particularly of oranges and carrots should be included in diet, he suggested. He added that moderate quantity of fresh dates should be taken in cold weather as these are great source of energy.
He said in the existing weather conditions, smoking is extremely injurious and it should be avoided to avoid complications related to lungs. Even the smokers should try to avoid smoking for at least one month, suggested Professor Shoaib. He added that the patients with bronchitis, asthma, COPD and allergy must avoid smoking to avoid serious lungs problems.