13 minutes agoAuthor: Gaurav Tiwari
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Answer Pink cold has started in most parts of India in the morning and evening. With the onset of cold, air pollution is also increasing. First, pollution increased due to stubble burning, then the remaining work was completed by firecrackers during Diwali.
The air quality index has reached above 200 in most parts of North India. AQI level has crossed 350 in most areas of Delhi. This means that the air quality is very bad. It is at a dangerous level in Delhi. This is causing great harm to health.
When we breathe, the pollutants present in the air also get absorbed into our lungs. These can enter our bloodstream and cause cough or itchy eyes. This can also cause the risk of many respiratory and lung related diseases. Sometimes it can even cause cancer. Now new studies are continuously revealing that it also affects the functioning of the brain.
Therefore, today in ‘Sehatnama’ we will know how air pollution is spoiling the health of our brain. You will also learn that-
- What does Air Quality Index mean?
- Is breathing bad air the same as smoking cigarettes?
- What harm is caused to our health by pollution?
- How can we protect ourselves from this?
Brain stroke happening due to air pollution
According to a recent global study published in the Lancet Neurology journal, air pollution is a major cause of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (SAH). It has been found that air pollution is responsible for about 14% of deaths and disability due to subarachnoid hemorrhage in the year 2021. It is proving to be more dangerous than smoking.
What is subarachnoid hemorrhage?
This hemorrhage affecting the brain has a direct connection with how clean or polluted the air we are breathing is. Dr. Abhilash Bansal, neurosurgeon and spine surgeon at SS Sparsh Hospital, Bengaluru, explains subarachnoid hemorrhage like this –
What does Air Quality Index mean?
Air Quality Index (AQI) is a kind of tool which measures how clean and clear the air is. With its help, we can also estimate what harm the air pollutants present in it can cause to our health.
AQI mainly measures the concentration of five common air pollutants. This includes ground level ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. You might have seen AQI on your mobile phone or in the news usually in these numbers: 80, 102, 184, 250. What do these numbers mean, see in the graphic.
Understand all the points given in the graphic in detail:
0-50: This air quality index can be called good. This means that air pollution is very less or there is no threat from this air.
51-100: This air quality is acceptable. However, some pollutants present in this air can cause health problems for people who are very sensitive to air pollution.
101-150: People who are sensitive to this air (those with respiratory conditions) may face health problems. Usually this does not have much effect on other people.
151-200: Everyone can have health problems in this air. People who are sensitive to pollution may face serious health problems.
201-300: This level of pollution in the air is like a warning for our health. This air can have very serious effects on every person.
301-500: If air pollution increases so much, it can trigger emergency health conditions. This wind can have very serious effects on the entire population.
Is breathing bad air the same as smoking cigarettes?
Dr. Abhilash Sharma says that breathing bad air can sometimes be more dangerous than smoking cigarettes. Many types of chemicals, particles and carcinogens are found in it.
According to a study published in the famous journal BMJ, more than 21 lakh people die every year in India due to air pollution. About 21 lakh 80 thousand people had died in the year 2023. In this matter, India is second only to China, where more than 23 lakh people die every year due to air pollution.
Air is causing harm equivalent to smoking several cigarettes daily
Researcher Richard A. of the American city of Berkeley. Miller and Elizabeth Miller created an online calculator to compare air pollution to cigarette smoke.
According to them, if a person is breathing at 64 AQI level for 24 hours then it is like smoking one cigarette in a day. While this air quality is not generally considered bad, it is acceptable. Now just think that if AQI level has reached above 250 in cities like Delhi, then it is equivalent to smoking how many cigarettes.
The simple calculation is that the worse the air quality, the more it is like smoking cigarettes. See its calculation graphic:
Many diseases can occur due to air pollution
Air pollution has many adverse effects on our health. Due to this the risk of cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases increases. What other diseases can be caused by this, see the graphic.
How to keep yourself safe as air pollution increases?
- Dr. Abhilash Sharma says to check the daily air pollution forecast in your area. Just by typing AQI and the name of your city on Google, you can get the latest update of the air quality there.
- If the pollution level is high then avoid exercising outside i.e. in the open air. When the air is bad, workout indoors only.
- If pollution is high then do not let your children play outside too much. Avoid going to areas with high traffic. Air pollution is generally high there.
- You can use a mask when going out of the house. This will filter the air and reach you.
- Include as many fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C in your diet as possible.
- Vegetables include coriander leaves, amaranth greens, drumstick, cabbage and turnip greens. These are good sources of Vitamin C.
- In winter, fruits like Amla, Orange can be included for Vitamin C.
- Apart from this, almonds rich in Vitamin E and Omega-3 fatty acids can also be included in the diet.
- During this period, keep drinking as much water as possible. This helps in removing toxins from the body.
………………………… Also read this health news Sehatnama – AIIMS study, risk of diabetes increases due to pollution: PM 2.5 Breathing in is equivalent to smoking a cigarette
The report of the World Health Organization says that every year 70 lakh people die due to air pollution all over the world. So many don’t die even from bombs and ammunition. Read the full news…
