Smog Season in Pakistan: How to Protect Your Lungs, Children and Asthma
From late October to February, smog settles over Lahore and much of Punjab, and air quality in Karachi and other cities also worsens. Fine particles (PM2.5) reach deep into the lungs, triggering coughs, sore throats, eye irritation and asthma attacks, and putting extra strain on the heart. This guide is prepared by the Medicine Online pharmacy team under the medical oversight of Dr. Farhan Rashid Abbasi.
Who is most at risk
- Children, older adults and pregnant women
- People with asthma, COPD or other lung disease
- People with heart disease or diabetes
- Anyone who works outdoors: traffic police, riders, labourers and street vendors
Everyday steps that help
- Check the air quality index (AQI) each morning. Above 150, limit time outdoors; above 300, stay indoors as much as possible.
- Move exercise indoors on smoggy days, and avoid walks near busy roads.
- Keep windows closed during the worst hours (often early morning and evening). An air purifier with a HEPA filter helps in the room where you sleep.
- Drink plenty of water and rinse your eyes and face after coming indoors.
- Avoid burning wood, rubbish or coal at home, and do not smoke indoors.
Do masks help?
Yes, if they fit and filter well. A well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask filters most fine particles. Ordinary surgical or cloth masks, such as standard disposable face masks, block larger dust and droplets but let much of the PM2.5 through, especially if they gap at the sides. Whatever you wear, press it closely around the nose and cheeks. Masks are not recommended for children under 2.
If you have asthma or COPD
- Take your preventer inhaler every day, even when you feel well. Preventers such as Seretide Evohaler, Seretide Diskus and Foster Nexthaler calm the airways over time.
- Keep your reliever with you (usually a salbutamol inhaler). If you need it more than twice a week, or at night, your asthma is not controlled: see your doctor before the smog peaks.
- Check your inhaler technique with your pharmacist. Many people lose most of the dose through poor technique; a spacer helps with puffer inhalers.
- Ask your doctor for a written asthma action plan that says what to do when symptoms worsen.
- Children with asthma may be prescribed montelukast, such as Montika sachets, alongside their inhalers.
When to get urgent help
- Breathlessness that makes it hard to speak in full sentences
- A reliever inhaler that is not helping, or is needed every few hours
- Blue or grey lips, or a child pulling in the skin between the ribs when breathing
- Chest pain or tightness, especially in someone with heart disease
Browse asthma inhalers and medicines, respiratory care, allergy medicines and eye, ear and nose care.
Frequently asked questions
Can smog cause a cough that lasts for weeks?
Yes. Polluted air irritates the airways and can cause a lingering dry cough. See a doctor if a cough lasts more than three weeks, or comes with fever, weight loss or blood.
Do steam inhalation or herbal remedies clear the lungs of smog?
Steam can ease a blocked nose and soothe the throat, but it does not remove particles from the lungs. Reducing exposure is what protects you.
Related guide: Managing asthma and allergies in Pakistan
Medically reviewed under the oversight of Dr. Farhan Rashid Abbasi. This article is for general information only and is not medical advice.
