Air quality can have a significant impact on one’s overall health as well as daily life and experts reveal this can also include an individual’s emotional well-being and mood . Constantly inhaling the air that is polluted can increase your risk of contracting various infections and health complications like asthma, bronchitis, difficulty in breathing, skin allergies, nausea and fatigue. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Sonal Anand, Psychiatrist at Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai's Mira Road, shared, “Falling ill too often and frequent doctor visits can create feelings of irritation, frustration, anxiety, stress, and agitation.

Over time, this can negatively affect one's mental health leading to depression, stress, and anxiety.” She added, “This is why it has become a need of the hour to take proactive steps to improve the air quality index in India for better mental health and physical well-being. People should constantly take initiatives to improve the air quality index by avoiding smoking in public places and not using personal vehicles even for covering short distances.

If you feel stressed or anxious due to pollution or poor AQI then consider consulting a therapist to seek professional help.” The link between poor AQI and mental health Poor air quality index is often the byproduct of high levels of air pollution. This can have significant effects on one’s physical health making them frequently ill.

Frequent exposure to pollutants and allergens in the air .