The air quality in Delhi before Delhi has already reached beyond the 200 mark. The threshold is considered as 'poor'. The real-time Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) at 5.30am today was 233. Multiple areas in Delhi already recorded AQI above 300, categorizing it into 'very poor'.

How Is AQI Read?

• 0 to 50 - Good
• 51 to 100 - Satisfactory
• 101 to 200 - Moderately Polluted
• 201 to 300 - Poor
• 301 to 400 - Very Poor
• 401 to 500 - Severe

Anand Vihar recorded 399 at AQI, while Dwarka Sector 8 was at 338, and Mathura Road at 311.

Also Read: 6 Warning Signs In Your Mouth That May Point To Heart Problems

The air quality is already worsening even before Diwali, this poses a risk for anyone who steps out. So, is there any right time to step out?

Dr Vivek Nangia, a Gurugram-based pulmonologist and a member of DocTube says that pollution levels tend to be slightly lower in the afternoon.

PM2.5 air pollution is highest in the morning and lowest in the afternoon. As per a 2023 study by an air filter brand, Delhi's air pollution peaked at 9AM and gradually improved as the day progressed.

On an average, Delhi sees roughly as half as much PM2.5 by 5PM. Similarly, in Kolkata, the pollution peaks at 8am and is lowered by 4PM. In Mumbai, the peak comes at 9am and is improved by 4pm. In the case of Chennai and Hyderabad, the peak comes at 8am with Pm2.5 at the lowest at 3pm or by noon.

"However, it is vital to wear well-fitted masks," says the doctor.

Can You Step Out In The Evening?

Noon is when the sun is at its peak, it heats the ground and causes warm air to rise and mix with the atmosphere. This helps to disperse pollutants. However, at night, the ground cools down and leads to a temperature inversion. This means that air neat ground becomes colder than the air above it, trapping pollutants close to the surface.

Also Read: World Spine Day 2025: Theme, Significance, And Origin

How Can You Protect Yourself When You Step Out?

Choose the correct mask, experts suggest that we go with N99 and N100 masks, which provide higher filtration. They are more efficient than N95 masks. Dr Sandeep Nayar, Principal Director and HOD, Chest & Respiratory Diseases at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital explains that preferably N95 should be considered as normal surgical masks do not prevent you from getting exposed to smaller pollutants including PM2.5 particles which may directly enter your airways and may diffuse into the blood and affect all organs of body.

If you must step out, choose the afternoon time, as it is when the pollution is at its lowest.

To protect your eyes, wear sunglasses, use lubricating eye drops, stay indoors and keep the windows closed, practice eye hygiene and invest in an air purifier.

For your skin, cleansing, moisturizing, and protecting it with sunscreen. You must include antioxidants in your diet and may consider detoxifying treatments.

Continue to check AQI forecasts near your area and keep a note of it to know when to avoid going out. Unless it is absolutely necessary, only then step out.

You can naturally cleanse your nasal passage and lungs by taking a steam, practicing control coughing, drinking green tea, consuming anti-inflammatory food items, and by consuming honey. You can also try Yoga to improve your breathing and cleanse your lungs.

A new study suggests that GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, used mainly for weight loss and diabetes, might also lessen the effects of alcohol. While this could be disappointing for social drinkers, experts at Virginia Tech see it as a hopeful new way to help people who struggle with serious alcohol problems.

Alcohol addiction is one of the world’s biggest problems. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019 alone, approximately 2.6 million deaths worldwide were linked to drinking. While 1.6 million deaths were due to non-communicable diseases, the other 700,000 deaths were caused by injuries.

A massive number of people struggle with alcohol problems. An estimated 400 million people globally, about 7% of the world's population aged 15 and older, were living with alcohol use disorders (AUDs). A large portion of this group, 209 million people, or 3.7% of the adult population, had the more severe condition of alcohol dependence (or addiction).

The WHO explains that we have effective ways to control and reduce the harm caused by alcohol, and countries need to use these strategies more often. At the same time, it’s crucial for every person to know the dangers of drinking and take personal steps to protect themselves from their harmful effects. Could these weight loss drugs become one such viable ways to help bring alcohol addiction down?

How Does Weight Loss Medication Help Alcohol Cravings?

GLP-1 medicines work by copying a natural body hormone that manages your appetite and how you digest food. This makes people feel full longer and helps them eat less. For this small study, researchers tested 20 people who were overweight.

Half of them were already taking a regular dose of a GLP-1 drug. On the test day, everyone had an alcoholic drink after a snack. The researchers then watched them for an hour, checking their health and asking how they felt.

The key result was that the group on GLP-1 drugs felt less drunk, even though everyone had the same amount. Crucially, their blood alcohol level rose more slowly. Scientists think that because the drug slows down the body's processes, it slows down how fast the alcohol reaches the brain, which dulls the effects, or the "buzz."

This is important because slow-acting drugs are less likely to be abused. These promising results mean researchers want to run much bigger studies to confirm that GLP-1s can be a real treatment to help people drink less.

Benefits Of GLP-1 Medication

The ability of GLP-1 drugs to help with cravings doesn't stop at alcohol. People taking drugs like Ozempic have also reported having fewer cravings for nicotine, opioid drugs, and even less desire for impulse shopping. Other research has already shown this potential: Opioid users on GLP-1s had a 40% lower rate of overdoses in one study.

In a separate trial done by researchers from Loyola University Chicago, these medications were better than standard drugs for alcoholism at keeping patients out of the hospital for alcohol problems. Scientists believe this happens because GLP-1 drugs affect the brain's reward system (called the mesolimbic system), which controls addiction. They change the levels of a chemical called dopamine, which is central to how we feel pleasure and form habits.

When most people think of COVID today, they imagine a mild illness, like a cold, a few days of fever, a sore throat, or a cough, before recovery. But for many, the story does not end there. Long COVID, which the World Health Organization defines as symptoms lasting at least three months after infection, has become a lasting reality of the pandemic.

Most studies have focused on describing symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, and shortness of breath. However, a recent study has shown that long COVID, especially in women, can trigger a chronic condition known as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).

What Is Long Covid?

Long COVID affects roughly 6% of people who had COVID, with over 200 symptoms recorded. For some, it lasts just a few months, while for “long haulers,” it can continue for years. Measuring the scale of the problem is difficult because symptoms differ widely from person to person. This has sparked debates over what long COVID truly is, what causes it, and even whether it is real.

However, as per Johns Hopkins Medicine, common symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, headaches, and changes in smell or taste, and multiple organ systems can be affected.

New Study Says Long Covid Can Trigger This One Chronic Illness

A study from Sweden found that young women with symptomatic long COVID were at a higher risk of developing POTS, adding an extra burden, according to research from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Among a cohort of predominantly younger women with highly symptomatic post-COVID-19 sequelae (PCS), also called long COVID, there was a notable incidence of POTS. The research noted significantly lower physical activity and capacity in long COVID patients with POTS compared to those without it.

The study examined 467 non-hospitalized, highly symptomatic long COVID patients, 91% of whom were healthy, physically active women before their COVID infection. About 12 months after their initial COVID illness, patients underwent cardiologist evaluations including a 48-hour electrocardiogram, head-up tilt test, and Active Stand Test for those suspected of having POTS.

What Is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)?

POTS is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system in which the heart rate rises excessively when standing. This can lead to symptoms like lightheadedness, fatigue, and fainting. In POTS, blood vessels don’t constrict as they should, causing blood to pool in the lower body and reducing blood flow to the brain. The nervous system compensates by releasing hormones that sharply increase heart rate, producing various symptoms, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

COVID-19 and POTS: Is There A Link?

POTS can be triggered by various factors, including viral or bacterial infections. Researchers believe the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 may act as a trigger, as more people recovering from COVID are showing POTS-like symptoms such as brain fog, rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), and severe chronic fatigue. The overlap in symptoms has prompted doctors to start testing patients for POTS.

Johns Hopkins explains that the autonomic nervous system controls functions we don’t consciously think about, like heart rate, blood pressure, sweating, and body temperature. Problems in these areas can cause symptoms that overlap with other conditions. Patients may have their POTS symptoms dismissed as lingering COVID effects or even psychological issues. Accurate diagnosis is critical, as POTS can be debilitating and requires targeted treatment.

How Can Volume Expansion Therapy Help With POTS?

The main goal of initial POTS treatment is to improve blood flow back to the heart, a strategy known as volume expansion therapy. This can include medication-based and non-medication approaches. Physical therapy also plays a key role in increasing blood volume over time. However, it often takes months before patients are able to respond enough to participate fully in physical therapy.

If you are experiencing COVID-like POTS symptoms, consult your healthcare professional for evaluation and guidance.

Diwali season is here, which brings with it the joy of celebrations, endless sweets, and festive food, all of which make this time of year so special. But to enjoy it fully without health worries, it is important to keep a check on your wellbeing with a few basic tests.

As the festivities begin, it is natural to get carried away with indulgent meals, late nights, and social gatherings. However, a few simple blood tests before Diwali can help you stay active, balanced, and ready to celebrate without any setbacks.

Why You Should Get Tested Before Diwali

Surrounded by all the happiness and excitement, many people tend to overlook their health during the festive season. This often leads to avoidable health issues that can interrupt the joy of celebrations and take away from the festive mood.

These problems usually stem from a few common habits that creep in during festivals, overeating, irregular sleep schedules, eating too many fried or sugary foods, skipping workouts, or changing usual meal times. They can also worsen any chronic health condition you already have.

You might now be wondering what these health problems are and whether they should be taken seriously. Mostly, they begin with stomach-related troubles that interfere with digestion, causing discomforts like acidity, gas, tiredness, constipation, diarrhoea, or irregular bowel movements. We got in touch with Dr Ranjeet Singh, Professor and HOD General Medicine- NIIMS Medical College And Hospital.

Do These Health Tests Before Diwali For A Festive Free Season

HbA1c and Blood Sugar Test

People living with diabetes should check their sugar levels before the festive season. An HbA1c test shows your average blood sugar over the last three months and helps your doctor adjust your diet or medicines accordingly. Even if you don’t have diabetes, a simple fasting or random blood sugar test can help you track early signs of imbalance, especially if you plan to indulge in sweets and rich foods.

Blood Pressure Check

Irregular blood pressure is common during festivals due to stress, erratic sleep, and heavy food intake. Both high and low BP can cause headaches, dizziness, or even heart complications. Checking your blood pressure and basic heart health markers before Diwali ensures you celebrate safely without fatigue or uneasiness.

Liver Function Test (LFT)

Festive feasts are often loaded with fried, oily, and sugary items that can strain your liver. The Liver Function Test helps assess how well your liver is processing toxins and nutrients. If you already have liver concerns or a history of fatty liver, this test becomes even more essential before you begin your festive indulgence.

Kidney Function Test (KFT)

The Kidney Function Test checks how efficiently your kidneys are filtering waste and maintaining fluid balance. Overeating, dehydration, or excess salt and sweets can put pressure on your kidneys. Getting this test done before the festivities helps detect any early signs of kidney stress or damage.

Thyroid Function Test

Thyroid hormones control your metabolism, mood, and energy levels but when they get imbalanced, they can lead to fatigue, mood swings, or sudden weight changes, issues that tend to worsen during the festive rush. A Thyroid Function Test ensures your hormone levels are stable, helping you feel active and positive throughout the season.

Lipid Profile (Cholesterol Test)

During Diwali, fried snacks and sweets can cause a spike in cholesterol levels. A Lipid Profile Test helps measure good and bad cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. If you get your Lipid profile done before Diwali, it can make you make better decisions when you are gorging on all the diwali sweets and make smarter food choices through the festive week.

To enjoy Diwali while reducing the risk of health problems, it’s a good idea to get these essential tests done in advance. Keeping your health in check will help you make the most of the celebrations without worry.

You can also encourage your family and friends to do the same. Remind them to take simple preventive steps and schedule their checkups so that everyone can enjoy a safe Diwali.