Long COVID-19 Haulers Should Take Precaution in Polluted Air

Highlights:

The risk of hospitalization rises in long COVID-19 patients on exposure to air pollution, especially fine particles (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
It is concerning for COVID-19 patients or long COVID-19 haulers in north India, given the extent of air pollution that Delhi faces during the winter

Air pollution in Delhi during the winter months is a cause for concern. According to health professionals, the ill effects of air pollution on your health do not manifest immediately but rather years later. However, this year’s air pollution in north India puts those who are ill or have recovered from long COVID-19 at more risk.

Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, recently unveiled a 15-point Winter Action Plan to reduce air pollution, with stubble burning continuing to be a major worry at this time of year. The Punjab Pollution Control Board estimates it will take 4-5 years to eliminate the stubble burning problem.

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‘In people with long COVID-19, exposure to polluted air increases the chance of hospitalization by 30%.’

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Gyanendra Agarwal, director of the internal medicine, respiratory and critical care medicine departments at Jaypee Hospital in Noida, advises against physically demanding activities, going outside and participating in outdoor physical activity like cycling, jogging etc. in the early morning and late evening.

Effect of Air Pollution on COVID-19

“Patients who have recovered from COVID-19 and have respiratory-related illness should keep their inhaler and medicines handy and follow the above precautionary tips,” said Agarwal.

They should also consume herbal tea, ginger tea and green tea because these beverages aid in the body’s ability to flush toxins from the system and because water helps to clear the body’s airways.

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A study from the University of Southern California (USC) that examined medical records from patients at Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) found that exposure to air pollutants, especially fine particles (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), raises the risk of hospitalization in COVID-19 patients by up to 30%, even for those who are fully immunised (KPSC).

“These findings are important because they show that while COVID-19 vaccines are successful in reducing the risk of hospitalization, people who are vaccinated and exposed to polluted air are still at increased risk for worse outcomes than vaccinated people not exposed to air pollution,” said Anny Xiang, study author and a senior research scientist at KPSC.

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According to Muzaffar Izamuddin, design manager for environmental care at Dyson, we often see an increase in Air Quality Index (AQI) values during this season every year, and this year is no exception.

Air Quality Index in Delhi

The AQI in Delhi on October 5 was 211, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) bulletin. Between 201 to 300 is regarded as ‘bad’ AQI.

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“While poorer air quality is a concern now, outdoor air is only a part of the problem. Every day we can breathe in up to 9,000 litres of air and can be breathing in more pollutants indoors as we are spending up to 90% of our time behind closed doors,” Izamuddin informed.

The quality of the air we breathe is essential to every aspect of our daily lives as our houses turn into places where we work, exercise, sleep and play more frequently.

“We are empowering people to breathe cleaner air and enjoy hygienic homes, taking back control of their indoor environment,” he added.

According to research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, pollution is connected over time to an increase in cardiovascular and lung conditions, which are connected to more severe COVID-19 symptoms.

According to them, short-term exposure to air pollution may exacerbate lung inflammation and potentially change how the immune system reacts to the virus.

Source-Medindia