TIL Desk Lucknow:
Rising air pollution has begun to directly affect the health of the general public. People with weak immunity are impacted first. Not only this, prolonged exposure to a polluted environment can also lead to health problems such as cough, shortness of breath, and asthma even in otherwise healthy individuals.
Speaking on increasing pollution during winter, Dr. Abhishek Tandon, Associate Consultant, Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, said that for people who already suffer from asthma, COPD, ILD, or any chronic lung disease, poor air quality proves to be even more dangerous. In such patients, symptoms can worsen rapidly, and in many cases, hospitalization becomes necessary. He explained that when the Air Quality Index (AQI) crosses 100, it is considered elevated pollution.
Long-term exposure to polluted air also increases the risk of cancer. This situation is even more serious for pregnant women. Continuous exposure to pollution can cause the unborn child to be born with conditions such as asthma. In many cases, the lungs of children do not develop properly. Moreover, due to pollution, there is also a risk of death of the fetus in the womb.
Emphasizing preventive measures, Dr. Tandon advised that people should avoid exercising outdoors in the morning and evening hours, as pollution remains concentrated near the ground due to cold weather. If possible, light exercise should be done indoors. If going outside is unavoidable, one should wear a good-quality N95 mask, as ordinary surgical masks do not provide sufficient protection in such conditions.
Children are affected by pollution more quickly. Living in polluted air can lead to asthma, nasal allergies, and eye inflammation in children, which worsen further during winter. Windows and doors in children’s rooms should be kept closed, cross-ventilation should be avoided, and a high-quality air purifier should be used to keep the room’s AQI below 50.
Along with this, as people age, lung capacity naturally declines. In such cases, fine particles like PM 2.5 accumulate in the lungs and cause serious damage, which cannot be removed. For the elderly as well as healthy individuals, the only way to stay safe is to minimize exposure to polluted air and take proper precautions.
