A Malaysian man has urged the public to avoid exercising outdoors during the haze after he developed a persistent cough and began noticing blood in his phlegm following training sessions in hazy conditions.
According to Sin Chew Daily, the man said he had been coughing for nearly a week and a half after exercising outdoors.
He suspected the haze could be linked to his condition and was at a hospital awaiting the results of a chest X-ray and phlegm sample tests for a possible lung infection.
However, the cause of his symptoms has yet to be confirmed.
Following the health scare, he advised those planning to run, jog or engage in other outdoor activities to consider moving their workouts indoors until conditions improve.
He also urged the public not to underestimate the potential health risks of the haze, stressing that it was “no joke”.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry has advised the public to minimise outdoor activities, particularly strenuous exercise, to reduce exposure to air pollutants.
Fine particulate matter known as PM2.5 can enter the respiratory system during hazy conditions, potentially causing coughing, throat irritation and breathing difficulties while worsening existing heart and lung conditions, including asthma.
The ministry advised the public to avoid outdoor activities as much as possible when the Air Pollutant Index (API) exceeds 100, which falls within the unhealthy range.
Those who need to go outdoors are advised to wear an N95 mask to help reduce exposure to fine particles.
