Rising air pollution to spike respiratory diseases, stroke, heart attack: Docs

Even as the national capital woke up to toxic air on Monday morning with the Air Quality Index AQI falling to the very poor category health experts warned an increase in respiratory diseases stroke and heart attack among othersAccording to the Central Pollution Control Board CPCB Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index AQI of 335 at 8 am on Diwali morning after people burst crackers on the eve of the festival of lights causing severe noise pollution and blanketing DelhiNCR in smokeThe CPCBrsquos forecast for the coming days indicates a similar trend with the air quality expected to deteriorate further into the severe category on Tuesday and WednesdayldquoIncreased exposure to air pollution has both acute shortterm and longterm impacts on health Shortterm impacts include exacerbation of asthma Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD shortness of breath and itching in the eyes Longterm exposure leads to cardiorespiratory diseases stroke heart attack dementia and mental health issuesrdquo Dr Harshal R Salve Additional Professor at the Centre for Community Medicine at AIIMS New Delhi saidThe expert noted that children and the elderly more than 60 years and those with preexisting illnesses are more vulnerable to the impact of air pollutionOn Sunday the cityrsquos daily average AQI climbed to 296 poor surging to 300 by 6 pm and hitting 302 by 7 pm nudging it into the Very Poor category the CPCB saidThe air quality in the national capital is expected to worsen further as people have been granted permission to burst green crackers for a limited time by the Supreme CourtldquoIn the last few days or a week the pollution has started rising in Delhi and that has increased the sufferings of people who are having respiratory diseases or allergies and this is expected to go higher in case there are significant firecrackers burned during the revaluationrdquo Dr Ujjawal Parakh senior consultant chest medicine from a leading hospital in Delhi saidldquoSo this is a vulnerable period for people who are suffering from respiratory diseases because they can have exacerbation or an increase in symptoms in these timesrdquo Parakh saidSalve recommended the need for reducing emissions by strict implementation of curbs on diesel vehicles management of dust at construction sites and regulating industrial exhausts At the individual level one must stop burning waste and stubble and use sustainable energy resources he saidThe doctor also suggested avoiding early morning outdoor activities using an N95 mask when outdoors and taking fruits and vegetables up to five servings a day especially citrus fruits rich in antioxidants to prevent the impact of air pollution on the human bodyldquoDuring the time of pollution patients suffering from respiratory disease are advised to continue taking all their medications regularly They should ideally remain inside the house in rooms with the air conditioner on so that the effect of pollution during the heightened period of the AQI does not affect them or has very minimal effectrdquo Parakh saidMeanwhile the deepening air quality crisis has prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management CAQM in the NCR and adjoining areas to swiftly activate StageII of the Graded Response Action Plan GRAPCAQM has also urged citizens to embrace public transport avoid dusty construction and shun waste burningThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever