Respiratory Diseases Looming Large As Garbage Piles Up In Cities; Warns Health Expert

Changes in the weather have intensify the conditions of citizens afflicted with respiratory ailments, especially asthma and chronic disease elsewhere in the country including Karachi city as this winter people are more prone to catching the germs due to prevailing polluted environment and improper nursing, ENT specialist Dr Atif Hafiz Thursday said.

ISLAMABAD,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Dec, 2018 ) :Changes in the weather have intensify the conditions of citizens afflicted with respiratory ailments, especially asthma and chronic disease elsewhere in the country including Karachi city as this winter people are more prone to catching the germs due to prevailing polluted environment and improper nursing, ENT specialist Dr Atif Hafiz Thursday said.

Talking to a private news channel, he said heart disease, stroke, lung disease and cancers, are among the top five causes of death today everywhere in the world and one-quarter to one-third of deaths from these diseases are due to air pollution.

The piles of garbage littering almost entire Karachi and many other cities of the country are not only annoying citizens specially kids but also becoming cause of different viral infections, he said.

He urged that there is a dire need to carry out a massive awareness drive to educate such neglected segment of society about potential health risks while handling improper garbage disposals.

Health expert said heaps of garbage in Karachi that over the years has become a black spot on city's face.

He said in addition to upper respiratory tract infections, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, air pollution are also resulting in causing heart disease for the citizens.

Some responsibilities are on citizens shoulders as well, like if the garbage bin would be placed in every corner of the street and if the people don't litter in society or on roads and use dustbins then it would help in keeping the city clean, he mentioned.

We just need to understand the root cause of the problems, adding, if the people understand then it will surely help in making Karachi clean once again, but with the support of faithful city administration.

Dr further said people should also be more careful about hygiene and wash their hands in order to prevent virus from spreading and by keeping themselves warm.

"If proper care is not taken, winter diseases could get complicated turning into ear and sinus infections," he warned.

He suggested that cold juices and ice creams should be avoided and children should be given hot drinks such as soup. As these are droplet infections, elder people suffering from flu and similar diseases, should not hug children.

He lamented that there is no one to check mushrooming growth of small factories, and prevailing heaps of garbage which are the main cause of emission of toxic particles in the air.

Dr suggested that when people are infected with viral diseases, they should avoid taking medicines and instead use home remedies such as drinking green tea, hot drinks, honey, cardamom and Joshanda.