Usually, this time of the year you take out your anti-pollution masks especially if you are living in polluted cities like Delhi NCR. But, fortunately, or unfortunately this time you are already wearing a mask to protect yourself from Covid-19.
Diwali is just around the corner, your city will be filled with smog and air pollutants, making it difficult for you and your loved ones to breathe.
Metropolitan cities like Delhi happen to be the most polluted cities in India with the highest amounts of tiny suspended particles. These particles penetrate deep into the airways and lungs and can cause asthma, bronchitis, and other breathing conditions. Air pollution poses a major threat to global health today and there is no doubt about this.
According to a report released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 30 percent of premature deaths in the country are caused due to air pollution.
India is a growing country and there is always some construction work going on in the city. Also due to lack of awareness, people don’t use public transport as much which leads to more traffic and in turn more pollution from those vehicles.
In addition to all this, festivals like Diwali also add up to the increasing air pollution scenario. Even after constant reminders from the Government and NGOs, people still use firecrackers and end up polluting the air which in turn affects them and their family members.
While there is no concrete evidence that air pollution is one of the causes of asthma, air pollution is certainly one of the leading triggers of asthma that can further lead to an attack. In 2015, according to a poll conducted by Curofy, 82% of the health experts agreed that there is a direct relation between asthma and environmental pollution. In metropolitan cities, air pollution is one of the main factors that worsen the symptoms of asthma, along with other respiratory conditions, causing increased bouts of breathing problems and lung infections.
If you have asthma, your airways are hypersensitive. Elements in the polluted air can cause inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Smog, along with other air pollutants can also lead to irritation in the eyes, the throat, and even in the lungs. This situation can be treated with first aid solutions such as breathing exercises, asthma inhalers, and portable oxygen cans for breathing issues.
How to avoid this:
- Consult a doctor regularly and get yourself a personalized asthma plan.
- Have a fair idea about the pollution level and the trends. Refer to local news channels or sources that can warn you when air pollution is high.
- Pollution levels are higher during the day or during rush hours. So, it’s best to avoid those timings and start early in the day.
- Take a few puffs of gO2 therapy, 99% pure oxygen in case of emergency and as a first aid when suffering from breathlessness.
So, this year, make sure you say no to firecrackers and other pollution-causing agents on Diwali. Also, instead of the usual sweets and gifts, give your loved ones gO2 therapy 99% pure oxygen, to help them fight the effects of pollution!
