Lungs at risk from pollutionImage Credit source: Getty Images
The air of Delhi-NCR has become extremely polluted. For some time now AQI has been hovering around 400. This is having a very bad effect on health. The effect of increasing pollution is especially affecting those who already have lung related problems. This poisonous air of Delhi is proving dangerous for respiratory patients. It has become difficult for them to even breathe in this air. The situation has become so serious that the number of patients is continuously increasing even outside the clinics. AIIMS itself has claimed this.
According to doctors, as the smog increases, the respiratory problems of the patients have increased. The lung capacity of the patients has reduced to half and their cough is not getting better not for weeks but for months. Problems like shortness of breath, chest tightness, fatigue and persistent cough after waking up in the morning have become common. Such patients have to come to the hospital again and again.
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Patients increasing outside AIIMS clinic
Delhi’s air is becoming so dangerous and poisonous that the number of patients suffering from breathing and lung related problems is increasing. Its effect is clearly visible outside the Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) Clinic of AIIMS. Where usually around 30 patients come here. At the same time, due to pollution this winter, the number of patients has doubled.
More impact is visible on women’s health
According to AIIMS, more women have been seen in the increasing number of patients. In which he was more likely to have the problem of coughing. After talking to some women, it was found that they were finding it difficult to breathe in the morning. In the remaining months of the year the cough gets cured quickly. But as soon as winter starts, dry cough and fatigue starts increasing. Another woman told that she has emphysema, in which the air sacs of the lungs get damaged. Due to this, he is having difficulty in walking and even his lung capacity has reduced to only 50 percent. There is no relief from cough since last 1 month.
What do doctors say?
Dr. Vijay Hadda, Professor, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, AIIMS, says that it has now become common for the condition of patients to deteriorate in winter. He says, “Usually we call patients for follow-up every three to six months, but between October and December, their condition worsens so much that they have to come every two weeks.”
Is bad air causing harm to the lungs?
Doctors believe that the increasing number of ILD (Interstitial Lung Disease) patients is more in India compared to other countries, which could be due to bad air. However, it would be a little difficult to say right now that pollution is the cause of ILD. Because its concrete figures have not been found yet. But to understand this, AIIMS is going to start a study, in which it will be found out whether pollution is really the cause of ILD or not. This study is going on in 23 centers across the country, where 10,000 ILD patients will be linked with the national database.
People suffering from lung disease should take care like this
Doctors advise that those who have lung related problems or ILD should go out of the house as little as possible during this time. Because even if pollution is not the entire reason for lung damage. But this can further increase their problem. If someone falls prey to this, the situation can become serious. Due to this, they may even need oxygen or ventilator.
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