Asthma patients cautioned against travel in smog.

LAHORE -- Medical experts and senior doctors have warned of the tendency of the cold winds to aggravate asthma, suggesting to the patients to avoid travel on the highways in the thick smog and fog as a severe asthma attack during travel can be fatal for them.

Addressing a workshop at a private hospital in the wake of the rising number of patients with the history of 'asthma attacks' at the peak of the winter, they said the patients should consult their physicians to ensure asthma control before making long journeys.

Organised by the General Cadre Doctors Association (GCDA) Punjab and Public Health Consultant, the event was also attended by the association's president Dr Masood Shaikh and other physicians of public and private hospitals of the city.

Dr Shaikh suggested to the asthma patients to take special care during the severe cold weather.

'People who have had a severe asthma attack should travel only when the sun is out and the weather is clear. They should keep the car heater on while traveling and take the inhaler with them.'

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He advised the patients to keep the windows of the vehicles shut during the journey and clean the inside of the vehicle thoroughly, removing dust with a vacuum cleaner before embarking on the journey.

The GCDA president said the asthma patients should use medicines timely in the cold season.

'If patients have no obstruction in breathing, no cough or wheezing, and no difficulty in breathing even during exercise, it means that asthma is under adequate control.'

Dr Shaikh said the patients should take steam of plain water before starting the journey and the water should be boiled in a pot and steamed with mustard oil three to four times.

'By doing this, the thick mucus stuck in the respiratory tract would be softened and breathing problems would be reduced. Before starting your journey, take a warm shower so that the steam clears the respiratory tract from the...