New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI) Doctors have advised people to be moderate when consuming sweets and take precautions against rising air pollution, warning that exposure to polluted air can pose serious health risks, particularly to children and people with pre-existing medical conditions.
Cardiothoracic surgeon and actor Madhuri Dixit’s husband, Dr Shriram Nene, said people need not feel guilty about indulging occasionally during festivals but should remain mindful of the consequences.
He said people could enjoy sweets once in a while but should avoid them in excess.
Former AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria advised people with comorbidities to avoid outdoor activities in the morning and late evening, when ground-level pollution tends to rise during winter.
Mumbai-based ENT surgeon Dr Varun Dave said breathing air with an AQI of around 250 is equivalent to smoking 10 to 15 cigarettes a day.
Air with a high AQI contains higher concentrations of smoke, dust and carbon particles, and these pollutants enter the body through the nose and sinuses before travelling through the trachea to the lungs, potentially harming the respiratory system, he said.
Pulmonologist at Medanta Lucknow, Dr Abhishek Tandon, advised people to minimise exposure to polluted air by staying indoors, keeping doors and windows closed and using good-quality air purifiers, particularly in bedrooms.
Wear a good-quality N95 mask while stepping outdoors, he recommended.
Internal medicine expert Dr Ruchita Sharma said air pollution contains extremely fine particles that are invisible to the naked eye but can penetrate deep into the body’s tissues.
She said these particles could increase oxidative stress and inflammation, aggravate asthma and raise the risk of cardiovascular conditions, including heart attacks.
Senior consultant paediatrician Dr Ravi Malik warned that children were particularly vulnerable to air pollution as their respiratory systems were still developing and their airways were highly sensitive.
Exposure to polluted air can cause eye irritation, skin allergies and respiratory illnesses, besides triggering asthma attacks, bronchitis and allergic rhinitis, he said.
Dr Malik advised parents to keep children indoors when pollution levels are high and avoid exposing them to firecracker smoke.
He stressed the need to promote tree plantation and educate children about the harmful effects of air pollution and the importance of clean air. PTI SD VN
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