India Today – October 08, 2018

OCTOBER 8, 2018 INDIA TODAY  51

HEALTH | WORLD HEART DAY

damages brain, heart, kidneys, reproductive system and
every organ of the body.
In children, it can lead to neuroinflammation which, it
has been proved, leads to cognitive underdevelopment, or
low IQ. In adults, air pollution leads to five to 10 times higher
brain attacks (paralytic); hypertension in people in their 20s
and 30s; five to 10 times higher heart attacks in peo ple living
in polluted cities. Numerous studies show rise in hospitalisa-
tion from heart attacks following spikes in particulate matter.
Similar correlation has been shown with asthma, COPD and
pneumonia. Such is the level of air pollution in India that neo-
nates develop bronchial problems. The number of lung cancer
patients is zooming. The past 20 years belonged to heart
disease, the next 20 will see a lung disease epidemic.
Efectively, there is no remedy. Air is a continuous flow, it
goes across boundaries. So when it is highly polluted outside,
don’t go out. Normally, we breathe 12-14 times a minute. But
when we do outdoor activities—running, jogging, exercis-
ing—we breathe about 45 times a minute. You will inhale
more toxins every minute. That is why we have been opposing
marathons, which are supposed to be good for your health but
actually kill by poisoning your body. Medically, it’s suicide.
Masks do not help: those sold in pharmacies can’t keep out
particulate matter and the N95 or N99 masks are efective if
worn tight across the nose. Even these can only prevent large
particles from getting into the lungs. Finer particles like P2.5

or harmful sulphates and nitrates can pass right through.

Indoor air pollution is also a big issue in India. Air purifi-

ers do no good, because they are efective over limited space.

You can do yoga, but it only helps enhance your lung capacity,

it can’t remove the particulate deposits that line your lungs.

The real remedy is taking small individual eforts to contain

two things, dhul and dhuan (dust and smoke)—the two con-

tributors to air pollution—at home, in your neighbourhood

or outside. You as a citizen need to take the initiative, to curb

pollution, to improve the air you breath. That’s the only way. ■

“THE MAIN CHALLENGE IN URBAN

INDIVIDUALS IS THEIR INABILITY TO

STICK TO MEAL TIMINGS”

DR AMBRISH MITHAL

Chairman and Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes,

Medanta: the Medicity, Gurgaon

P

eople don’t eat on time and eat very late. They work

all day, come home late and with just enough energ y

to have dinner and crash. The best meal time at night

would be around 7 pm, but if that is dicult, try and eat by

8 pm and then give a gap of two-three hours before going to

bed, that would be ideal. Irregular meals may set you up for

obesity, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes. The practice

Dance

Walk

Focus on

what you can

control

Reminisce

about good

times

Ask for

ahug

Breathe

Look for

opportunities

in challenges

Go to bed

earlier

Smile

Ta l k

about it

10 SIMPLE WAYS TO

BUST STRESS

Graphic by TANMOY CHAKRABORTY