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For some people with respiratory conditions, wearing an N95 can be difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n Asiya Bakht, a media professional, said that as a person with asthma, wearing masks makes her feel \u201cvery suffocated\u201d and “very breathless”.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI find it very uncomfortable, and that is the reason I’m not at all able to wear it,\u201d the 52-year-old said.<\/span><\/p>\n Instead, she has reduced her exposure in other ways, including working from home and going out less.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite being unable to tolerate masks herself, Ms Bakht strongly supported distributing N95 masks earlier for those who can use them.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFor people who can wear it, that is the best defence,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n A 76-year-old retiree who only wanted to be known by his surname, Tan, also felt earlier distribution would particularly benefit those who may struggle to afford N95 masks themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think it’s better to give,\u201d Mr Tan said. \u201cDon’t wait until when the thing happens, then you start distributing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n If conditions improve, people can meanwhile keep the masks.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNot everybody can afford to buy masks,\u201d Mr Tan said. He recalled once buying a box of masks for S$5 (US$3.9) during a previous severe haze episode.<\/span><\/p>\n Unlike Ms Bakht, however, Shreya Ahuja, who also has asthma, did not feel masks needed to be distributed before PSI 200.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think it’s a good threshold,\u201d the 22-year-old student said.<\/span><\/p>\n