After some days of relief, on Sunday, Delhi again woke up to a thick layer of smog, with pollution levels rising up to 'very poor' category. The centre's early warning system (EWS) forecast that air quality index (AQI) will further deteriorate. On Sunday, by 7pm, Delhi's AQI was at 299, just below 'very poor' level on the index. Anand Vihar remained at severe levels with the AQI logged at 421 at 11am, by evening, it rose to 428. Wazirpur also slipped into the 'severe' category with an AQI of 408. As Delhi continues to struggle with smog-filled skies, and thick layer of smoke to breathe through, an earlier video by Dr Divya Prakash, Consultant Physician at Yashoda Hospital on tips to stay safe amid Delhi pollution is making rounds. What Does The Doctor Say?Dr Prakash points out that the moment the index goes above 50, the air starts to become unhealthy for us, however, in Delhi, we already see the AQI levels crossing the 400 threshold. "The main problem is with our lungs due to increasing air pollution. It also indirectly affects our heart and brain. So, how can we save ourselves from this?" He shares that the best way is to use public transports and electric vehicles. He also recommends wearing a mask whenever anyone goes out and urges people to avoid going out at peak hours. "Eat healthy food, avoid burning wood or construction work around the house and do use your air purifier at home, especially for children and elderly and those who already have lung or other heart problems," he says. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yashoda Hospital (@yashodahospital)]]> How Poor AQI Impacts Our Lungs?Air pollution comprises of tiny pollutants and particles called the PM2.5 and PM10, that reach deep into our lungs. These particles, though tiny, are able to inflame the airways and cause breathlessness, wheezing, and repeated coughing. This can further cause healthy adults to suffer from throat irritation, headaches, and fatigue if they are exposed for a long time. Since children inhale more air per kilogram of body weight than adults, they are at more risk of being harmed by the pollutants. Furthermore, they also have a weaker immunity, which puts them at more risk of such complications. The World Health Organization (WHO) also notes that not just lungs, but almost every organ in the body can be impacted by air pollution. Thanks to the small size of the pollutants, they can penetrate into the bloodstream via lungs and then circulate throughout the body and could lead to systemic inflammation and carcinogenicity. What Diseases Could Air Pollution Cause?Apart from the respiratory diseases like asthma, shortness of breath, COPD, WHO notes that air pollution could is a risk for all-cause mortality as well as diseases like:StrokeIschaemic heart diseaseLung cancerPneumoniaCataractThere are evidence that support the link between air pollution exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including low birth weight of the child, small for gestational age, and other cancers, diabetes, and cognitive impairment and neurological disorders in the child. How Can You Read AQI?As per the Central Pollution Control Board, here's how the data on AQI can be interpreted0-50 is considered ‘good’51-100 is considered ‘satisfactory’101-200 is considered ‘moderate’201-300 is considered ‘poor’301-400 is considered ‘very poor’401-500 is considered ‘severe’
Email
Google
Facebook Email Google Facebook