Trichy: Gusty winds rampaging Trichy and its neighbourhood, which is expected to last till July end, can cause adverse effects to the eyes and the respiratory system, warn city doctors.By making small changes to day-to-day-lifestyle and by following certain dos and don’ts, people will be able to protect themselves from dust allergies and dust-related diseases, ophthalmologists and other experts said. Chronic patients in particular have the possibility of suffering acute exacerbations (severity of a disease) during this time period. “Climatic changes, especially the shift from summer to windy season, are when chronic patients are unable to adapt due to the short span of time. Hence, I would strongly recommend them to stay indoors,” stated the director of Tamil Nadu Asthmaa and Allergy Research Foundation (TAARF) Dr G Kamal.Motorcyclists, pedestrians and others who engage in outdoor work are also said to be at high-risk. They might suffer from excessive coughing and sneezing due to dust and other particulate matter, prevalent in the air this period. “It’s not possible for people to wear face mask for a long period of time. Hence motorcyclists should wear fully-covered helmet, while pedestrians should opt for full-body clothing, preferably in cotton,” Kamal told TOI.Children, on the other hand, might contract hay fever, which is caused due to an allergic response to airborne substances. Proper intake of protein can increase immunity during this period, as protein contains amino acids. The moisture content present in the winds during this time may cause dehydration and doctors strongly recommend sufficient intake of water.When it comes to eyes, the prevalence of conjunctivitis, occurrence of corneal foreign body and corneal ulcer increases during this period.Head of department of ophthalmology at K A P Viswanatham Government Medical College Dr R Parthiban Purushothaman warned that certain misconceptions and unsafe practices people carry out could lead to severe effects. “Windy season is when people get several kinds of eye allergies. If not treated properly, the condition might worsen. People should resist washing eyes from stored water, getting ring treatment to remove foreign bodies from eyes and buying out of the counter medication,” he stated.Gusty winds prevailing in varied intensity levels since June first week is expected to last throughout southwest monsoon, according to meteorologists.

Stay updated with all the Latest Trichy headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.