AIR POLLUTION, CHANGE IN WEATHER TROUBLING LUCKNOWITES
Lucknow on Wednesday was in the very poor category with Air Quality Index (AQI) of 326
LUCKNOW : Rise in air pollution and change in weather have aggravated the respiratory problems among residents, especially elders, in the state capital, said doctors.
“In my OPD, out of 50 patients at least 10 come with respiratory problems linked to high pollution,” said Dr Surya Kant, HoD respiratory medicine at the King George’s Medical University (KGMU).
He said those already suffering with respiratory illness were facing more difficulty. Doctors said that change in weather was aggravating the respiratory illness.
Rise in air pollution and change in weather have aggravated the respiratory problems among residents, especially elders, in the state capital, said doctors.
“In my OPD, out of 50 patients at least 10 come with respiratory problems linked to high pollution,” said Dr Surya Kant, HoD respiratory medicine at the King George’s Medical University (KGMU). He said those already suffering with respiratory illness were facing more difficulty.
Doctors said that change in weather was aggravating the res
Polluted air is extremely harmful to those having a history of respiratory illness, say doctors.
piratory illness. “Changing weather, particularly, the prewinter period has a direct link to respiratory illness. Besides, high level of pollution is also contrib
uting to the problem,” said Dr Rajiv Garg, senior faculty of the respiratory medicine department at the KGMU.
Lucknow on Wednesday was
in the very poor category with Air Quality Index (AQI) of 326. “The very poor AQI means strong possibility of respiratory illness to residents on prolonged exposure to polluted air. It is harmful to those having a history of respiratory illness or those above 60-years of age,” said Dr Abhishek Shukla, secretary general association of international doctors.
“Though in the OPD, majority of the patients coming with respiratory illness are elderly, but people below 40 years of age are also coming, which can be linked to air pollution,” said Dr Kant. Lucknow recorded maximum temperature at 32 degree Celsius and minimum temperature at 15.7 degree Celsius.
Doctors said this difference in maximum and minimum temperatures was also troublesome.
They said that the vulnerable groups – those having history of respiratory illness and elderly – must follow the instructions of their doctors to avoid complications during the coming weeks as pollution level may take time to reduce and also the weather change would happen gradually.