Dense Smog – A “Silent Killer”

By Dr. Deepak Talwar in Internal Medicine Pulmonology, Respiratory & Sleep Medicine

Nov 11, 2017

As quoted by the World Health Organization, nearly 92 percent of the world population is living in the areas where the quality of the air is below WHO standards.

Air quality now-a-days in Delhi is hazardous as the city is covered with a smoke blanket mixed with fog, generally called as smog, with the quality of air touching the hazardous levels. The quality of the air index showed high presence of particulate matter, PM 2.5, levels everywhere.

The smog in the city and the nearby areas still continues to inundate leaving people puffing and panting for breathe. As said by some doctors the atmosphere is so polluted that the toxic air is more like smoking 22 cigarettes a day.

The reason for this toxic environment includes the pollution from vehicles, industries and stubble burning in neighboring states.

As recorded by the government’s ‘System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR)’ on Thursday evening, the average PM 2.5 level in Delhi, Gurugram (Haryana) and Noida (UP) was afar “severe” at more than 500 units.

According to national standard the safe limit for PM2.5 is 60 micrograms per cubic meter and 25 units as per the international standards.

The most polluting areas in the Delhi-NCR where the PM 2.5 went beyond the severe level includes Lodhi Road, Mathura Road, Aya Nagar, Punjabi Bagh, Pusa, Delhi University (North Campus) and Noida, which recorded at 500 or “Danger Plus” level.

As the smog doesn’t spare the living rooms and underground Metro Stations, people are complaining for heavy breathing, burning eyes sensations with watery eyes. Within this alarming situation the Delhi government has taken a step ahead for the better health of children by closing the school and colleges till Sunday i.e., 5 Nov 2017 and had also issued a health advisory for the people who fall in the high risk category which includes children, elderly people, pregnant women and those who are suffering from asthma and heart ailments.

For the next few days the central pollution control board (CPCB) and EPCA have recommended “free of cost public transportation” in various areas.

The hospitals have registered 20% rise in the respiratory cases at out-patient clinics and emergency departments within the past two days, due to the severe level of pollution in the city.

The director of AIIMS Dr. Randeep Guleria, feared that if the situation remains the same then it could cause about 30,000 deaths in the NCR due to respiratory related issues in the nearby winter season.

The smog can cause various kinds of allergies or increase the impact of already existing allergies further decreasing lung immunity and can also leads to premature births. Not only this, the pollution has further complicated the situation by causing heart strokes, lung cancer and chronic and acute respiratory diseases.

Till the time the smog problem gets resolved it will cause severe illness to the people. So it’s in our hands to keep ourselves safe by following these preventive measures:

• Primarily N95 masks should be used while going out.
• People should avoid outside jogging and can opt for indoor physical activities.
• Air purifying plants like aloe Vera, ivy and spider plants can be kept inside office and homes.
• To invade the indoor air pollution, chimney in the kitchen and exhausts in the bathroom should be used.
• More consumption of fruits rich in Vitamin C, Magnesium and Omega Fatty Acids.
• Herbal Ginger and Tulsi Tea instead of other liquid drinks.

Dr. Purshotam Lal, Director – Interventional Cardiology and Chairman – Metro Group of Hospitals, says “People having the history of ailments related to heart and lungs like asthma, allergy, Coronary Artery Diseases (CAD’s), etc. are at the higher risk with the smog. Even children and elderly aren’t safe in current scenario. I urge everyone to stay indoors as much as possible and take precautionary measures while going out.  Report to your doctor in case you feel any uneasiness due to the pollution”.

Dr. Deepak Talwar, Chairman- Metro Centre for Respiratory Diseases, says, “Restrain yourself from doing physical activities especially out of home and always wear special masks while going out. Report to your doctor immediately in case you feel any breathlessness, asthma attacks, eye and skin allergies, etc.”

Because we care !

Metro Hospitals & Heart Institute in association with BlueAir is distributing free N95 masks to the patients and deserving people. We did our bit to protect you from the hazardous pollution. And collectively let’s come together to do something for the betterment of our environment. Stay Safe.