Though major snowfall is yet to be witnessed in Kashmir before the commencement of the harshest winter period called “ Chilla-e-Kalan” this year but mercury has already dropped to sub zero temperatures across valley and people across Kashmir are in the grip of deep freeze. Heavy snowfall restraining public movement and consequently freezing business and trading activities is not the only concern for the people during winters in valley but critical health issues witnessed during this harshest period of “Chilla-e-Kalan” in recent years are matter of much deeper concern. One of the most worrying health issues noticed during winters in recent years is the unprecedented rise in heart attacks leading to deaths of people even before reaching the hospitals for treatment. Not only people but medical experts of repute too have deep concerns about unprecedented rise in critical health ailments like heart attacks, hypertension and broncho constrictions during harshest period of winter called “Chilla-e-Kalan” . What people don’t take serious is the advice of doctors and medical experts of repute who believe that the minimum use of heating appliances like gas heaters and as well as room heaters run on electricity can most likely reduce the rising intensity of heart attacks, hypertension also called high blood pressure, broncho constrictions and viral infections during the harshest period of winter called “Chilla-e-Kalan”. It is imperative for the people to keep in mind the observations of doctors and medical experts when they say that since blood thickens and blood vessels narrow during chilly weather the possibilities of high blood pressure leading to brain hemorrhage rise during high intensity winter periods in Kashmir Valley and upper reaches of Jammu division where freezing temperatures intensify cold during the high intensity periods of winter.
- While stressing on preventive measures against all forms of critical health ailments most of the doctors advise people to cover their mouth and nose if sneezing or coughing haunts them, stay home when sick and develop habit of taking warm water , good and nutritious food , seasonal vegetables, and fruits. Hope people would stay healthy; stay safe while paying heed to the advice of doctors of their own choice and medical experts .
Let people also not take any lenient view of such observations of medical experts wherein they say that bio mass combustion due to freezing cold often leads to broncho constriction which ultimately in some cases can become the cause of several forms of critical lung ailments. Though in recent years dozens of people died of asphyxiation caused by gas-based room heaters but people still use gas based room heaters unmindful of the advice of doctors that risk of asphyxia (sleep death) is high in using gas based heaters and biggest reason for the risk of asphyxia is excessive carbon monoxide in the room which chokes the supply of blood to the brain and in most of the cases leads to hemorrhage and eventually death. While stressing on preventive measures against all forms of critical health ailments most of the doctors advise people to cover their mouth and nose if sneezing or coughing haunts them, stay home when sick and develop habit of taking warm water , good and nutritious food , seasonal vegetables, and fruits. Hope people would stay healthy; stay safe while paying heed to the advice of doctors of their own choice and medical experts.
