Diwali has just passed yesterday and the air quality has been extremely affected. Even though there were many rounds of social campaigning to avoid bursting of crackers, people went with their emotional touch and beliefs to burst crackers and celebrate the festival of lights. Delhi’s air quality index crossed 1000 mark in many areas and has been marked hazardous for health. There is a hug layer of smog which is visible till noon and the PM 2.5 shooting to 775 verifies that. The city of Delhi and national capital region can suffer from various problems because of this. People from several parts of the region have complained of itchy throat and watery eyes waking up to high levels of pollution this morning.
We are here to inform you about various measures that you need to take. This article is to resolve your queries about pollution after diwali and how can you protect yourself from health problems.
Hazards of Air Pollution after Diwali 2021
The toxic fumes that have emitted because of increase in pollution after diwali have left people amidst the risk of increased infections, COVID and health adversities. The fumes emitted from the crackers have affected the air quality index and visibility in the air. Many people have suffered from watery eyes, itchy throat and have complained of infection. Those who are suffering from lung problems such as asthma, lung infection and thyroid, have high risk of falling for health complications.
Also Read- Don’t Expose Yourself To Pollution, It Can Cost You Vision Loss
Complications of Air Pollution on Health
There high levels of pollution in the national capital have raised alarms once again and increased problems such as-
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Coughing
- Respiratory problems
- Asthma
- COVID-19
- Lung Infection
What you should do to protect your lungs after diwali 2021?
- Try to stay indoors as much as possible
- Do not go out for walks, exercises and activities for a few days
- Try to keep your masks on maximum times to prevent throat problems
- Avoid areas where bursting of crackers have taken place, it may contain toxins that may affect your lungs
- Avoid going to suffocating or small storage spaces which can increase cough and breathing problems
- Keep doors, windows and other openings of the house closed to prevent smog from entering the house
- Do respiratory exercises inside your home and keep yourself away from smog during exercise
- Keep medicines, nebulizers and medical kits near you all the time to avoid any complications or health adversities
- Eat nutritious food that consists of fruits and vegetables to improve overall functioning of body
- Try to avoid outdoor sweets, snacks and food items which may be affected by pollution during diwali
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and try to avoid hyperacidity
- Stay away and put your masks up if you find someone wheezing, suffering from breathlessness and persistent cough
- Get your health check-up done if your feel any kind of respiratory problem or breathlessness after diwali
Also Read- Air Pollution Linked To 6M Preterm Births A Year, Study Finds
Which masks are safe after diwali pollution?
Use N95 masks as a precautionary step to prevent yourself from health adversities. Pollutants occurring after burning crackers can stay in the air and moisture for a while, therefore it is recommended to wear N95 masks that give maximum prevention from pollution.
If you do not have N95 masks then wear surgical masks which should not be reused. Surgical masks which are commonly available are efficient to protect you from harmful toxins present in the air. Especially people suffering from any kind of respiratory problems and older adults should wear masks positively for a few days until pollution levels go down.
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