Pink chill has started in most parts of North India in the morning and evening. With the onset of cold weather, air pollution is also increasing. First the burning of straw increased the pollution, then the rest was done by bursting firecrackers during Diwali.
Air quality index has crossed 200 in most parts of North India. AQI level crossed 350 in most parts of Delhi. This means that the air quality is very poor. It is at dangerous levels in Delhi. Due to which health is getting damaged a lot.
When we breathe, pollutants in the air also move into our lungs. These can enter our bloodstream and cause coughing or itchy eyes. This also increases the risk of many respiratory and lung related diseases. Sometimes it can even cause cancer. Now new studies continue to show that it also affects brain function.
So, today'In Health Water' We will learn how air pollution can damage our brain health. You will also learn that-
- What does air quality index mean?
- Is breathing bad air the same as smoking cigarettes?
- What harm does pollution do to our health?
- How can we avoid this?
Air pollution can cause brain stroke Air pollution is the leading cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), according to a recent global study published in the Lancet Neurology journal. 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 is directly related to how clean or polluted the air we breathe is. Dr. Abhilash Bansal, neurosurgeon and spine surgeon at SS Sparsh Hospital, Bengaluru, explains subarachnoid hemorrhage this way –
What does air quality index mean? The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool that measures how clean the air is. With the help of it we can also estimate the harm that the air pollutants in it can do to our health.
AQI primarily measures the concentration of five common air pollutants. These include ground level ozone, particulate pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. You may have seen the AQI on your mobile phone or in the news usually at these numbers: 80, 102, 184, 250. What these numbers mean, see the graphic.
Understand all the points given in the graphic in detail:
0-50: The air quality index can be said to be good. It means that the air pollution is very low or there is no danger from this air.
51-100: This air quality is acceptable. However, some of these airborne pollutants can cause health problems for people who are very sensitive to air pollution.
101-150: People sensitive to this air (those with respiratory conditions) may face health problems. It usually doesn't have much effect on other people.
151-200: This air can cause health problems for everyone. People who are sensitive to pollution can face serious health problems.
201-300: This level of air pollution is a warning for our health. This air can have a very serious effect on everyone.
301-500: If air pollution gets too high, it can trigger emergency health conditions. This air can have very serious effects on the entire population.
Is breathing bad air the same as smoking cigarettes? Dr. Abhilash Sharma says that breathing in 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 renowned journal BMJ, more than 21 lakh people die every year due to air pollution in India. About 21 lakh 80 thousand people died in the year 2023. In this regard, India ranks second only to China, where more than 23 lakh people die every year due to air pollution.
Air does the same amount of damage as smoking several cigarettes a day American city Berkeley researcher Richard A. Miller and Elizabeth Miller created an online calculator to compare air pollution with cigarette smoke.
According to him, if a person breathes an AQI level of 64 for 24 hours, it is like smoking one cigarette a day. While this air quality is not generally considered bad, it is acceptable. Now think how many cigarettes are equivalent to smoking if the AQI level reaches above 250 in cities like Delhi.
A simple calculation is that the worse the air quality, the more it is like smoking cigarettes. See its calculation graphic:
Air pollution can cause many diseases Air pollution has many adverse effects on our health. This increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases. What other diseases can this cause, see graphic.
How to protect yourself from rising air pollution?
- Dr. Check the daily air pollution forecast in your area, says Abhilash Sharma. 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, avoid outdoor i.e. open air exercise. When the weather is bad, exercise only indoors.
- If the pollution is high, don't let your children play outside too much. Avoid going to high traffic areas. Air pollution is generally high there.
- You can use a mask while going out of the house. This will filter the air and reach you.
- Include as many vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables in your diet as possible.
- Vegetables include coriander leaves, amaranth greens, drumsticks, cabbage and turnip greens. These are good sources of vitamin C.
- Fruits like amla, orange can be included for vitamin C in winter.
- Apart from this, almonds rich in vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids can also be included in the diet.
- Drink as much water as possible during this period. This helps in removing toxins from the body.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
