Air Pollution is Affecting Not Just High-Risk Groups, but Normal People too

In Delhi, not just people belonging to high-risk groups but others with underlying respiratory problems are coming with complaints of chest tightness and congestion.

The entire Delhi and NCR area remained covered in a shroud of smog the entire Saturday, November 5, 2016. Owing to this, several residents complained of respiratory problems and burning eyes. Experts have ruled out any respite with the situation expected to continue for a couple of days.

With Delhi and NCR region engulfed in a shroud of smog, doctors say that not just people belonging to high-risk groups but others with underlying respiratory problems are coming with complaints of chest tightness and congestion.

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‘With Delhi and NCR region engulfed in smog, doctors say that not just people belonging to high-risk groups but others with underlying respiratory problems are coming with chest tightness and congestion.’

"There is significant raise in the number of people coming to the emergency and the OPD with chest tightness and congestion. People with asthma and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) have gone up by 15-20%," said Randeep Guleria, Professor and Head, Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders, AIIMS.

"Also normal people who have underlying respiratory problems are coming with feeling of chest tightness because of pollutants which are at toxic levels. Not just the high-risk group like elderly and small children, but also normal people are getting affected," he added.

He also said there is a need to take emergency measures in the current situation. "This is like an emergency situation. We should try and see what we can do about traffic on the road, crop burning, and decrease of road dust. We need to be aggressive at all fronts because there are multiple factors. It is not just one factor that is contributing to the pollution," said Guleria.

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According to doctors, high-risk people should try and stay indoors and drink lots of fluids.

"People should try and avoid going out They should stay indoors, drink lots of fluids so that body moisture and body hydration is good," said Arup Basu, Pulmonologist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

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"People should avoid too strenous physical exertion because the level of oxygen in the atmosphere is less. If you have underlying respiratory problems, you would be advised to take some medicines, be regular on those medicines, and take them in proper manner," he added.

Basu also said those who have breathing problems should consult a physician and avoid crowded places.

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"The usual medicines are not being so affective in treating them also. Many of them have to be put on steroids or they need to be put on ventilators. Even normal people who don't have any respiratory diseases, they are also getting affected. Many of them are getting admiited to hospitals because of worsening of their problems. The number has gone up by 100%," he added.

Experts say since there is no significant wind or breeze in the air, the dust and haze are not getting blown away.

Raj Kumar, Professor and Head, Department of Respiratory Allergy and Applied Immunology at Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, said, "Not just the people with asthma and COPD are getting affected by the pollution level, but also the normal people. This year the pollution level has been worst in many years."

Source-IANS