PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The celebration of Deepawali has worsened the air quality especially in cities in the plains. Doctors urged citizens to take necessary precautions to prevent allergies including asthma and other ailments.
According to official data from the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Dehradun on November 8 was measured at 254, which is classified as “poor” in terms of its impact on the health of the general public. On the same day, Clock Tower AQI was 271 and Nehru Colony was 237. It is expected that in the upcoming days the AQI level will remain affected. Considering this, experts pointed out that cold, cough and other allergies may affect residents.
Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) hospital medical superintendent Dr RS Bisht said that the deteriorated AQI affects people gradually instead of causing an immediate effect. He said that due to the affected AQI, people might suffer from chronic lung disease, cold, cough and other issues. To prevent this, residents are urged to take necessary precautions, which include wearing a mask.
Senior physician at Deen Dayal Upadhyay district hospital, Dr Praveen Panwar said that with the poor AQI, people can suffer from allergic conditions which include breathing problems. He said that people who are already suffering from asthma can be affected more during this. So especially the person who is already a patient of asthma should avoid going outside for a few days and ensure to take their medicine and in case of any problem consult doctors immediately. He also added that other people can also suffer from allergies like breathing problems, cold and cough. So, to prevent this, people should drink warm water in the morning and evening, wear a mask while going outside and also wear a mask while bursting crackers, Panwar said.
Opt for self-talk to beat post-Diwali stress, irritation
DEHRADUN: Clinical neuropsychologist Dr Sona Kaushal Gupta urged people who have suffered irritation, anger and other issues due to noise pollution from crackers on the occasion of Deepawali to opt for self-talk in which they soothe themselves to avoid after-effects of such disturbance. She said this after observing the said ailments, especially post-Deepawali, among some people.
Gupta informed that due to bursting of crackers late at night on the occasion of Deepawali, sleep of many was disturbed, leading to increased irritation, stress level, anger and other issues. Senior citizens are more prone to such ailments due to the said factor, which has somehow increased sugar and high blood pressure too. Before Deepawali, few cases were observed of this, but after the said occasion the stress, irritation, difficulty in sleep was observed among people. Apart from this, cough and allergies due to smoke were also seen.
She said that, to avoid this and the ill effects of noise pollution post-Deepawali, people are recommended to do self-talk and soothe themselves and as observed that after Deepawali some people burn crackers, so people who suffer from crackers should use earplugs, close the windows and doors of their house and, for good sleep follow sleep hygiene, which also includes taking half a cup of warm milk at night, she added.
