Sunny Health

The hazy months are here again, and quite possibly, many kiasu Singaporeans are already buying masks, with the more enterprising ones thinking about how to propagate the urgency of the situation make a quick buck out of this. Hold your horses before you run to your nearest pharmacy in a panic, you might change your mind after reading about common misconceptions concerning the haze.

Myth 1: I can't find / wear N95 masks, so I'll wear surgical masks to keep myself safe.
Surgical masks can't block out the very fine particles found in the haze. No matter how many layers you wear, it's not going to be helpful. Heck, you can't even protect yourself from inhaling germs and viruses. However, if you want to prevent your saliva from getting all over the place when you cough or sneeze (likely to increase in occurrence on hazy days) go ahead by all means. It would be a very considerate and hygienic thing to do.

Myth 2: I'm in big trouble if I don't wear an N95 mask on hazy days.

If that were true, senior citizens, children and those with respiratory problems will never see the light of the day. The masks are unsuitable for children due to the incompatible size, and not appropriate for those with weaker lungs as it can be difficult to breath when donning an N95 mask.

In fact, if you will be staying indoors for long periods of time, with the air conditioning or fans switched on and windows closed, you do not even need an N95 mask. Only those who spend long hours outdoors should wear an N95 mask. If you're nipping from one sheltered spot to another in the open and the haze is really bad, you can dampen a handkerchief or cloth and hold it over your nose when walking in the open. Many people were seen doing this when the haze was at its peak 400+ psi and masks of all sorts were in shortage thanks to hoarders.

Myth 3: I will fall ill, even end up with cancer, if I expose myself to the haze.

For most healthy individuals, you won't actually fall sick just because of the haze, though you might experience mild discomfort like tearing eyes and itchy throat which are temporary. Elderly and children with weaker immune systems and those who are already sick or have chest problems may fall ill and should thus stay indoors and rest as much as possible. Medical attention should be sought if feeling unwell.

Cancer is certainly not a cause of worry as according to a United States Environmental Protection Agency study, there is little evidence for a direct relationship between haze exposure and lung cancer.

Myth 4: Chugging water helps flush out haze particles that has infiltrated my body

There is no scientific evidence of this, but certainly, drinking water is good for the immune system, and regardless whether there is haze, you should be drinking 8 glasses of water or as much as your body needs everyday. There is no need to make the effort to drink more than usual.

Additional tips: Coupled with the El Nino that is estimated to also affect Singapore these few months, the weather is really going to be hot and stuffy. If you're wearing the N95 mask out, it will certainly feel very comfortable. Consider bringing with you a portable fan or a handheld paper fan to fan the heat off you. And a water bottle will be very useful in replenishing the water lost through perspiration.