ACTION PUNJAB NEWS Desk: As winter arrives and the cold wave intensifies, health experts are noticing an increase in viral infections, influenza, and COVID-19 cases.
According to Dr Nikhil Modi, a senior pulmonologist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, the falling temperature causes increased moisture in the air, low wind speed, and an increase in pollution, all of which contribute to various infections.
“Due to the falling temperature, there is fog, which, along with pollution, forms smog. This atmospheric condition can result in different types of infections, and many people are experiencing difficulty in breathing,” Dr Modi stated.
“The increase in cases is not limited to COVID-19; other infections, such as swine flu, influenza, and H1N1, are also on the rise. Hospitals are seeing an increase in patients with symptoms like coughing, colds, fevers, breathing problems, low oxygen levels, and pneumonia complaints,” he added.
Dr Nikhil Modi emphasised the importance of taking precautions to avoid infections during the winter.
He advised staying indoors whenever possible and adequately covering the body in cold weather, particularly the head and legs. Consuming nutritious, hot food, keeping clean, and wearing masks when going outside are all important precautions.
“Stay indoors in such weather and not go out of the house unless it is necessary. The best way to avoid diseases in winter is to keep your body properly covered in the cold. Especially cover your head and legs,” he added.
“Eat nutritious food, eat hot food, take care of cleanliness and wear a mask whenever you go out of the house. Because the mask will not only protect you from many viral infections but will also protect you from pollution.”
In light of the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, the doctor advised people not to disregard symptoms such as coughing, colds, fever, body aches, loose motion, throat mucus, and headaches.
He emphasised the significance of testing for viral infections other than COVID.
“If a patient is continuously experiencing problems like cough, cold, fever, body ache, loose motion, mucus in the throat, headache, then do not ignore it and do not just get the coronavirus test done. But also get tested for other viral infections. Because many times people get tested for COVID-19 only when they have a cough, cold, fever etc. and do not get tested for other diseases and later their problems increase.”
