Kathmandu: Along with the arrival of summer, the amount of air pollution is increasing due to forest fires in different parts of the country and because of this, due to low visibility, the flight time of airplanes has been stopped at some airports.
Recently, there has been an increase in the number of respiratory patients in hospitals as well. Every time we breathe, we draw half a liter of air into our lungs, we take in seven to eight liters in a minute and 1100 liters in 24 hours.
It is pretty obvious that polluted air contains dust particles and harmful gases. When we breathe, the particles and harmful gases mixed with the air also enter the lungs, which can cause various health problems. Some very small particles of dust and harmful gases can not only enter the lungs but can also damage other parts of the body by entering the blood circulation system through the lungs.
Health problems caused by air pollution are temporary and long-term.
The immediate effects are burning eyes, an itchy nose, a runny nose, a sore throat, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, and itchy skin, among other things. Pollution also indirectly increases the risk of respiratory infections and can lead to fatal diseases like pneumonia. If someone already has a respiratory-related disease or illness, that will surely have a serious negative impact as well.
In long-term effects of airborne diseases
Prolonged stay in polluted places can create serious problems in our respiratory system along with other parts of the body. One of the long-term problems caused by pollution is asthma and also lung cancer, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and irregular heartbeat.
Air pollution is equally dangerous for children and pregnant women. Therefore, pregnant women and children should pay special attention to avoid air pollution. Infants may be born prematurely, have low birth weight, lack of brain development, and breathing problems may be seen later.
How to avoid airborne diseases
It is necessary to take serious measures to reduce air pollution at individual, social, national and international levels. It does not distinguish any person, class or community. When it comes to urban areas, the particular time for air pollution increases is morning and evening. Do not go out of the house as much as possible during this time. Release at a time when the pollution is as low as possible. Use a mask if you have to go out. As the surgical masks that we usually wear cannot provide protection, we should wear N95 masks because it can block up to 95 percent of particles, although it cannot protect against harmful gases along with extremely fine particles.
In the case of rural areas, the main cause of pollution is pollution from inside the house, such as firewood, fuel for cooking in kerosene stoves, et cetera, and to reduce it, using improved stoves, arranging ventilation in a way that does not accumulate smoke in the kitchen, and putting more emphasis on the use of clean energy.
Besides being a common home for wild animals, forests are also a source of clean air. It is necessary to give special emphasis on its protection and setting fire to the forest is an unforgivable crime. It is necessary to follow the rules and laws to punish such criminals more severely according to the law.
This article has been written under the supervision of Dr Ravi Mahat, who is a respiratory specialist at Grandi International Hospital, Dhapasi.
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