Air pollution has become a serious health crisis for India today! 

Air pollution has become a serious health crisis for India today. In the year 2021, about 21 lakh people died in India due to air pollution, in which not only asthma but also heart attack and stroke are being seen.

Air pollution has become a serious health crisis for India today. In the year 2021, about 21 lakh people died in India due to air pollution, in which not only asthma but also heart attacks, strokes and even increasing BMI (body mass index) in children are having a profound effect. Dr. Sandeep Salvi, a renowned pulmonologist from Pune and head of the Indian Chest Society, recently shared his views on the dangerous effects of air pollution and measures to prevent it.

According to a TOI report, Dr. Sandeep Salvi said that air is a life-giving element for us, from which we get 90% of our energy. We breathe about 10 thousand liters of air every day and the size of our lungs can expand to the size of a tennis court. Lungs are made for clean air, but it also contains dangerous elements like nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone and PM2.5. These elements enter the blood and start accumulating in various parts of the body, increasing the risk of serious diseases related to breathing, heart and brain. Dr. Salvi says that many times the cause of sudden heart attack and stroke is not only lack of diet and exercise, but also air pollution.

The terrible extent of air pollution in India

Dr. Salvi says that about 98% of Indians live in places where the level of air pollution is much higher than the WHO standards. The country's capital Delhi is counted among the most polluted cities, but the situation is also terrible in many other cities of North India.

Are Diwali crackers the only cause of pollution?

Crackers do increase air pollution during Diwali, but it would be wrong to blame them alone for it. Vehicle smoke, construction work and burning of garbage also play a major role in pollution. Due to cold air on Diwali, pollutants remain close to the ground, which increases respiratory problems even more. In Delhi, cases of respiratory diseases have increased by two to three times after Diwali.

Link between air pollution and obesity

A study has shown that long-term exposure to air pollution can cause higher BMI in children. Children in Delhi have higher rates of asthma and higher levels of obesity than those in cleaner cities. Air pollution blocks the body's internal processes, which can lead to diseases like asthma and obesity.

Measures to avoid air pollution

Dr. Salvi says that to avoid air pollution, we should practice wearing masks like in Covid. School children, motorcyclists, rickshaw pullers should make it a habit to wear masks all the time. A two-layer cotton mask and a layer of silk or chiffon between it can be as effective as N95. Apart from this, cleaning the nose twice a day, maintaining hydration, consuming antioxidants present in fresh fruits and vegetables can also provide relief. Indoor plants should be planted at home which absorb pollutants from the air.

Disclaimer: Dear reader, thank you for reading this news. This news has been written only to make you aware. We have taken the help of general information in writing this. If you read anything related to your health anywhere, then definitely consult a doctor before adopting it.