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Written By: Agencies | Published : June 5, 2015 5:35 PM IST
On the occasion of World Environment Day, awareness needs to be created about how Delhi s increasing pollution levels are causing various ailments such as respiratory & cardiovascular disorders
New Delhi, June 05, 2015: According to World Health Organization, Delhi has become the most polluted city of the world. This is a cause of grave concern because air pollution has been linked to various life-threatening diseases including respiratory disorders, heart attacks and strokes.
The tiny pollution particles present in the air are mainly to blame. Those particles which are smaller than 2.5 microns are not easily screened and they find an easy entry into the human body. They then begin to affect the lungs and the blood vessels surrounding the heart. This leads to cardiovascular problems like artery blockages which ultimately might lead to heart attacks.
Commenting on this, Dr. JC Mohan, Director, Cardiology, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi said, 'In Delhi, the level of particulate matter has increased way above the permissible limit which is making people vulnerable to a host of diseases. On World Environment Day, it is important to raise awareness about how proper precautions can be taken by citizens to keep themselves safe from the wrath of air pollution. First and foremost, my advice is that people must plan their outdoor activities well. Smog and pollution are the highest in the afternoon and one should avoid going out much during these hours. Outdoor activities, especially for children and the elderly, should be planned either during the early morning hours or later in the evening. If one does need to step out, trying a handkerchief around their nose and mouth is a good way of filtering out the harmful particles. Antioxidant-rich food items such as fruits and vegetables should be consumed in ample quantities since they help protect the body from the harmful effects of free radicals created by air pollution. The consumption of a good quantity of fluids (non-alcoholic) help in keeping the respiratory tract of the body moist. Additionally one should not engage in outdoor exercises in places where there are high levels of pollution. In cases such as this, It is better to exercise at home or in a pollution free environment.'
Air pollution is now considered the world s largest environmental health risk causing around seven million premature deaths globally. Thus, it becomes important to adopt precautionary measures to ward off the health hazards caused due to pollution.
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