Even as the people are all set to celebrate Diwali festival on Monday, the city doctors are of the view that the festival of lights brings its own share of problems, especially for the asthma patients. Sudden asthma attacks, where the lining of the lungs’ airway passages swells and restricts blood flow into the organs, are fairly common in Diwali.
While the administration has strictly allowed bursting of “green crackers only”, the city residents, especially those suffering from respiratory disease, need to be cautious. Even though these crackers are less polluting, they do add to the pollution.
Dr Amit Kumar Mandal, Director, Pulmonology, Sleep and Critical Care, Fortis Hospital Mohali, in a Diwali advisory, said that the persons suffering from asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory ailments should start taking precautions several days prior to the festive season. There is an increase in particulate matter and harmful gases by almost 30-40 percent in the environment during Diwali time, he added.
Compounded with the farm burnings and the onset of the cooler weather conditions, smog formation adds to the problems. Smog develops when sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxides (factory emissions, car exhaust) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) (gasoline, cleaning solvents, paints) in the atmosphere leading to the formation of airborne particles and ground-level ozone.
To avoid worsening of existing lung problems, Dr Mandal suggest the people to avoid going outdoors unless essential, especially during early morning and evening hours. He has also asked the people to avoid travelling to dusty or polluted areas while enjoying the fireworks from a distance; wear simple cloth or triple layer mask while going outdoors; not to miss the regular medications, especially inhalers – important to avoid exacerbations or increase in symptoms.
* Avoid going outdoors unless essential
* Avoid travelling to dusty or polluted areas
* Enjoy fireworks from a distance
* Wear a simple cloth or triple-layer mask while going outdoors
* Don’t miss regular medications, especially inhalers
* Patients with respiratory diseases on inhaled therapy should be regular with their medications
* Balanced diet with plenty of fluids, fresh vegetables, and seasonal fruits
* Regular exercise preferably indoors