(Ecns.cn)！Particulate matter in the air is found in higher concentrations in North China, and recently it caused a dense fog that has hung around since the weekend. Experts have expressed their concerns on cntv.net that it may lead to various respiratory conditions such as asthma, and even cardiovascular disease and lung cancer.
Zhang Hong, vice-dean of the Respiratory and Critical Care Department, Chaoyang Hospital of Beijing, said the weather has complicated the conditions of patients with chronic respiratory diseases and the hospital has witnessed an increase in medical emergencies.
Longtime exposure to particulate matter, especially that smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) which go directly into the alveoli of the lungs, is a major health hazard. "The smaller the particle, the more hazardous it is for public health," said Shi Yuankai, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital.
In Beijing, the lung cancer rate has shot up by 60 percent during the past decade, even though the smoking rate during this interval has not shown an increase, said the Beijing Health Bureau.
"Rising levels of air pollution might be largely to blame," concluded Zhi Xiuyi, director of the Lung Cancer Treatment Center at Capital Medical University.
Experts urgently advise the public to exercise some simple defense measures on such days.
1. Better not confront the smog "face to face"- This might mean extra preparation before heading to work- putting on a mask for example, no matter how troublesome this may sound to certain people. Keeping the windows closed on a heavy fog day is critical to reducing the amount of polluted air you breathe.
It is strongly recommended cardiovascular disease patients stay home, for the low barometric pressure commonly producing such weather decreases the oxygen content of the air, which in turn causes the high blood pressure that is a particular threat to such people.
Sports enthusiasts should break their routine in such weather, experts say. On annoying days like this, the pollutants in the air tend to join with air-borm water particles or the moisture content of exhalations, and therefore congregate in areas where big crowds of people are exercising. This spirals into a greater health hazard since active people tend to inhale more air and breathe more deeply, opening passages for more pollutants to enter their system.
2. Better wash more frequently- Even a brief exposure to dense smog demands a careful cleansing ritual afterwards. The nasal cavity in particular needs a thorough cleanup since this is the channel particulate matter sneaks up to reach the lungs. The best results are achieved with a quick and thorough swab with a Q-tip dipped in water, or better yet, a saline solution.
3. A special diet helps - Foods lower in calories, salt and oil (this is a country crazy about oily, fried dishes) are recommended on such foggy days. Seasonings like chill and pepper should be avoided for their stimulating effects. Also, people who tend to get a little bit moody in the dense and depressing fog need to increase their intake of vitamin D, which means treating themselves to plenty of sea food, liver and eggs.
