With the air quality likely to worsen in the coming days, several city doctors have urged local residents to prepare to leave Delhi for a few days or embrace lifestyle changes to combat soaring pollution levels. I am advising you to either do this.
Air quality in the capital worsens every winter, mainly due to meteorological factors with low wind speeds, stubble burning in neighboring states, and vehicular pollution.
Dr Rajat Sharma of Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital said that due to increased air pollution, vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children are more likely to suffer from respiratory problems.
“There are two types of vulnerabilities: there are those who are clinically vulnerable, such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women, and those who cannot afford air purifiers and whose jobs, such as construction workers, require them to go outdoors. “There are also vulnerable groups, such as those who remain in the country,” he added.
Dr Vikas Maurya, head of the respiratory department at Fortis Hospital in Shalimar Bagh, said some of his patients facing chronic problems have decided to leave the city during the winter months.
“Ask to work from home”
For others, working from home is also an option if their jobs allow, he said.
“If these options are not available, wear a high-quality N95 mask when going out and maintain a healthy diet, as airborne contaminants are known to contain multiple viruses. It is recommended that people get vaccinated against influenza and pneumonia.”
Dr GC Khilnani, director of the PSRI Pulmonary Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Research Institute, also urged the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions such as bronchitis, a history of heart failure and cancer survivors to be cautious.
He said the number of such patients has increased recently. “Nebulizers used to be rare, but these days one in three children has asthma, so almost every household now has a nebulizer,” he said.
“For those who are facing chronic problems and have the option of leaving the city, I would recommend going away for two to three weeks,” he adds, adding that many young couples prefer cities like Hyderabad or Bengaluru rather than Delhi. He emphasized that he prefers cities with a unique atmosphere. Their children will suffer.
Clean air activist Jai Dhar Gupta, 52, expressed a similar opinion.
Every year, as Delhi’s air pollution worsens, he packs his bags and leaves for Uttarakhand, despite having an air purifier at home.
Mr. Gupta said he is building his home near the Rajaji Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand, away from the hustle and bustle of the capital.
“My lungs got really bad in 2013 and I’ve had the same symptoms every year since then. I’m allergic to pollution and every year it makes my eyes swell and it’s hard to breathe,” he said.
“Leaving is not an option”
Neha Gupta Jain, a mother of an 8-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son, said leaving the city was not an option for her.
“Our doctors have advised us to leave the capital for the next few months. But that is not possible as both me and my husband work here. But we cannot let our children suffer. So, that day is not far away,” said the Hauz Khas resident, adding that he administers nebulizers to his children three times a day during bad weather.
“Nebulizers can provide temporary relief, but overuse can be harmful once you get used to higher doses,” he added.
A doctor at the mother and child ward at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said that when air pollution increases, many patients start complaining of persistent coughs. “It’s especially serious for women who are pregnant and already face respiratory problems,” she says.
Published – October 28, 2024 12:33 AM IST
