Written By: Debjani Arora | Updated : November 10, 2017 5:41 PM IST
Winter mornings are cosy and they make you snuggle inside your blanket. If you are trying hard to fight that early winter morning fatigue and go for a morning walk, probably sleeping for a couple of minutes more is a good idea. We say this because air pollution these days is creating a menace to our health and the environment. As Delhi is reeling under the effects of smog and air pollution other cities in India are also facing some similar problems. However, the intensity varies and Delhi tops the chart at the moment. Here is how smog is affecting your health.
Now, smog or the hazy air we see in the morning is nothing but a mixture of smoke and the morning fog. Smog consists mainly of fine particles, gases like carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NO2), and ground-level ozone all of which makes it a harmful pollutant. Delhi and NCR region is engulfed with smog. The smog has also reached an immensely hazardous level with the concentration of fine particles present in the air seven times more than what is considered safe in India. In fact, in Delhi schools have been shut to save children from the harmful effects of smog and people are advised not to leave their houses unless necessary. Here are five dos and don ts to stay healthy when there is fog around.
In such condition going for a morning walk doesn t seem the healthiest idea says Dr Arvind Kale, Chest Physician, Zen Hospital, Mumbai. The effect of the smog is more during mornings because of temperature inversion. Since the air is already polluted throughout the day due to motor exhaust and other kinds of gases being exposed to it there is more number of pollutants or volatile organic compounds or VOC which makes the air heavier. This warm air doesn t evaporate easily and remains suspended around us. When the cold air in the morning mixes with this air it gives rise to the hazy film of air we see all around in form of smog. If inhaled continuously it could lead to a number of health problems and make the existing ones worse, says Dr Kale.
In fact, he suggests that going for a walk after the smog has settled is a good idea. It might not be feasible for many, but a walk at 11 or 11.30 am in winter mornings is fine for the elderly and they should avoid the morning walks at 6 or 7 am. It could be detrimental to kids too and it is wise to keep them indoors at such times. The indoor air will any time be less polluted than the outdoor air, he says. He further explains that continuous inhalation of the smog-filled air could lead to irritation of the respiratory pipes, swelling of the pipes and air chambers of the lungs, chest congestion and tightening and wheezing.
So, it is better to hold on to your plans of morning walks till the air quality returns to normal.
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