Indian cities, especially the national capital Delhi , are in a jeopardy right now because of the return of toxic air and the bad air quality index (AQI) which has reached a dangerous level, threatening the health of the residents. People with respiratory conditions like chronic heart or lung diseases are bound to suffer while experts caution that viral infections may also exacerbate the health issues. As per System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) data, the overall AQI of Delhi stood in ‘very poor’ category.
According to a forecast by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the AQI may worsen further by Sunda,y with stubble burning in the nearby areas adding to the already deteriorating air quality in the national capital after Dussehra and ahead of Diwali festivities. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Sachin Kumar, Senior Consultant - Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine in Bengaluru, shared, “Children under the age of eighteen, adults over sixty-five, those with diabetes and pregnant women are all considered high-risk categories. Due to extended exposure, those who are active outside, such as outdoor workers and serious exercisers, may also be at increased risk.
Since they will probably be the first to feel the impacts of air or particle pollution, all of these groups should take extra precautions to keep themselves safe.” Asserting that people, especially those with pre-existing conditions, must take flu and pneumococcal vacc.
