Autumn officially begins in March, but the effects of drier and colder weather are yet to be seen on health. With the expected dryness for the next few months and the relative humidity below 30%, respiratory diseases are more frequent. However, it is possible to reach next summer without getting sick by adopting simple habits.
The combination of temperature fluctuations and the drier air of this season form the perfect scenario for the development of respiratory diseases. When the air is less humid, the concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere increases. In addition, the airways also dry out and are more susceptible to the penetration of pollutants and viruses.
In autumn it’s always the same
You know who loves the combination of charged air and weakened airways? Respiratory transmission viruses.
“In addition to the influenza virus, which causes the flu, other microorganisms take advantage of this context, such as rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, coronaviruses, bocaviruses, metapneumoviruses, among others”, says physician Maria Cândida Rizzo, member of the rhinitis scientific department at the Brazilian Association of Allergy and Immunology (ASBAI).
These viruses are responsible for diseases such as the common cold, bronchitis and, in more serious cases, can lead to pneumonia. Children and the elderly are more susceptible to contagion and, therefore, are the main targets of vaccination campaigns for both the coronavirus and the flu. “In children, there is an immunological immaturity proportional to their young age. In the elderly, however, responses tend to be slower and often insufficient”, details Rizzo.
Allergic disease attacks
People who live with rhinitis and asthma also tend to face more severe attacks during the autumn. Rhinitis, which affects 26% of Brazilian children, is characterized by a runny nose and itchy eyes. The redness of the face and nasal obstruction are also part of the daily lives of people with the condition during the dry period.
Autumn can also make life difficult for those living with asthma. Chronic inflammatory disease of the airways affects approximately 10% of the Brazilian population and is intensified by several factors, such as dust, mold, pollen and respiratory infections caused by viruses.
Prevent before remedy
To prevent the common infections of the period, Rizzo explains that the first thing is to keep the vaccination record up to date. People who can be vaccinated once morest the flu and who are owing booster doses of immunization once morest Covid-19 should seek health posts before the drought in the period increases the incidence of these diseases.
As the majority of autumn opportunistic viruses are respiratory, to prevent them it is worth adopting measures similar to those we took once morest the coronavirus at the height of the pandemic. “We should avoid environments that are poorly ventilated and crowded”, maintains the doctor. It’s also important to wash your hands or sanitize them with gel alcohol frequently.
Also, people with symptoms of respiratory illness should wear masks to avoid contaminating others. When coughing, the indication is to use the forearm or a disposable scarf to prevent the virus from spreading through the air.
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