Rising air #pollution levels in #Delhi have put its residents at an increased risk of heart and respiratory diseases

Rising air pollution levels in Delhi have put its residents at an increased risk of heart and respiratory diseases

City doctors stress the urgent need to take necessary steps to reduce the air toxicity and ways in which people can protect themselves from associated health complications

 New Delhi, December 15, 2015: According to the World Health Organization, Delhi is the most polluted city in the world. What makes it worse is the fact that in the past one week itself, Delhi’s air pollution levels have been recorded to be one-and-a-half times worse than even Beijing. This is 15 times higher than the safe limit stated by the WHO.

The rising air pollution levels come as a point of major concern for city cardiologists who are seeing a drastic rise in the number of respiratory and cardiovascular complications being faced by their existing patients as well as those in the high-risk groups.

The most common symptoms being reported by healthy people include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; phlegm; chest tightness; and shortness of breath. People with lunch disease are found complaining of difficulty in breathing, coughing, chest discomfort, wheezing, shortness of breath, and unusual fatigue. Those with heart disease are found to experience chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and fatigue. In extreme cases, air toxicity has also been found to trigger cardiac arrhythmias and heart attacks.

Commenting on the risks, Dr. Manoj Kumar, Associate Director & Head – Cardiac Cath Lab, Max Super Specialty Hospital, Patparganj said, “Breathing toxic air that is extremely high in particulate matter 2.5 concentration puts Delhi’s residents at a high risk of acquiring life-threatening ailments such as respiratory disorders, heart attacks, and strokes. Considering the impact that our surrounding atmosphere has on our overall health, it is essential that awareness is raised about ways to reduce the associated health hazards. People need to be made aware of how both short term and long term exposure to pollution is equally harmful. Continuous exposure can cause plaque formation in the arteries providing nutrients and blood to the heart, often triggering heart attacks in high-risk patients. Those with poor heart function must be extra cautious as the air pollutants can trigger heart failure. Extra care must be taken so as to cover one’s face when outside and to avoid going to over-crowded and densely polluted areas. The government also must take necessary steps to reduce pollution levels.”

 According to the World Health Organization, the concentrate of PM2.5 in the air should be lower than 10 μg/m3. However, in our country, the levels are at any given time more than 60 μg/m3. That means as opposed to his western counterpart; an Indian is six times more exposed to PM2.5 particulates. In selected areas, the levels have been recorded as high as 300–400 μg/m3.

Dr. Balbir Singh – Senior Interventional Cardiologist & Chairman, Electrophysiology & Pacing, Medanta, The Medicity Hospital said, “The ultra-fine nanoparticles found in polluted air can cause enhanced coagulation, arrhythmia, and thrombosis in heart patients. Exposure to pollutants also increases the risk of acute arterial vasoconstriction and atherosclerosis. All these factors enhance the risk of clot formation and subsequent heart attacks. The sudden spurt in vehicular pollution and the indiscriminate burning of crops in neighboring states have made the situation worse. Delhi is on the verge of a public health emergency with a large section of the society becoming prey to a host of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. It is highly recommended that high-risk patients wear masks while outdoors, minimize outdoor exertion and immediately consult their doctors if they suffer from any unusual symptoms like coughing, wheezing, irregularities in breathing pattern, chest discomfort, or unusual fatigue.”

The various ways in which people can protect themselves from the ill effects of air pollution include:

• Pay attention to the air quality index in your area and if the levels are extremely high then limit or eliminate outdoor exertion
• Wear a mask when outdoors
• Heart patients should eat lots of healthy foods and keep a regular check on their blood pressure levels
• Avoid smoking or being in smoke-filled environments
• Avoid visiting over-crowded and densely polluted areas
• Stay in regular touch with your doctor and report all unusual symptoms