Air Pollution

Even People Without Respiratory Problem History Coming For Emergency Treatment Due To Air Pollution: Experts

People are suffering from breathing issues like asthma, bronchitis. The symptoms are increasing, said Dr Nikhil Modi, Respiratory medicine specialist Apollo Indraprastha hospital

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Increased exposure to air pollution can even lead to lung cancer

New Delhi: People living in Delhi NCR are gasping to breathe fresh air and even those who don’t have a history are suffering from respiratory problems, said health experts. “Since the winters have arrived and the air quality index has already been about 400 AQI in last two to three days now, this smog is giving all types of respiratory problems. People are suffering from breathing issues like asthma, bronchitis. The symptoms are increasing,” said Dr Nikhil Modi, Respiratory medicine specialist Apollo Indraprastha hospital.

Also Read: Delhi’s Air Pollution: Stage 4 Of Pollution Action Plan Implemented In The City, Here’s What’s Allowed & What’s Not

Dr Nikhil Modi said that the patients are coming to OPDs, emergencies. Apart from that, even people who’ve never had any issues are facing problems like runny nose, sneezing, nose block, throat irritation, persistent cough and even breathing difficulties.

The major issue that we have seen is increased number of outpatients who have been coming to us with increased cough with sputum productions increased breathlessness, wheezing, especially those patients who have never had these symptoms before. So, already those patients who have bronchial asthma, COPD, interstitial lung disease are coming with pneumonia or increased wheezing, we have to put them on steroids or nebulisations, said Dr Avi Kumar, Pulmonologist, Fortis Escorts Hospital.

Dr Avi further added that studies have shown that newer patients can develop new types of allergies or throat allergies or respiratory allergies in the form of bronchial asthma.

Constant or chronic exposure to air pollution can lead to COPD. Increased exposure to air pollution can even lead to lung cancer. Studies have shown that many patients can develop new onset pneumonia with increased incidence of tuberculosis due to the constant exposure to air pollution. We have seen or OPDs full with many patients post-Diwali season and right now, I think it is the peak of the air pollution levels we have seen. So a lot of inpatients and outpatients we are being seen,” said Dr Avi.

Dr Avi suggested that one must stay at home and avoid going for morning walks since the level of pollution is more than it is in the afternoon.

You can apply air purifiers at home so that during the night time you can take cleaner air you can inhale third times whenever you go out to apply masl or do not go in crowded places. Those patients who have respiratory issues or cardiac issues can take flu vaccines regularly every year, he said explaining how to protect yourself from air pollution.

Also Read: Air Quality In ‘Severe’ Category In Delhi NCR; Children Upto Age 16 More Vulnerable To Pollution, Says Expert

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ populationindigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (WaterSanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollutionwaste managementplastic banmanual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diarrhoea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.

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