Pollution Hangover: Why Your Eyes, Throat And Lungs May Remain Irritated Days After Diwali

Why Your Eyes, Throat And Lungs May Remain Irritated Days After Diwali (Credits: iStock)

The last firecracker may have burst, the celebrations may be over, and the festive lights may have come down, but the effects of Diwali pollution can continue to linger. For many people, the days following the festival bring an uncomfortable combination of burning eyes, a scratchy throat, persistent coughing, chest congestion and even breathlessness. While these symptoms are often dismissed as temporary irritation caused by poor air quality, there is more happening inside the body than meets the eye.

This lingering discomfort, sometimes referred to as a 'pollution hangover', is linked to the inflammatory response triggered by exposure to firecracker emissions and suspended pollutants. And importantly, the body does not necessarily recover the moment the air begins to clear.

According to Dr. Arup Halder, Consultant Pulmonologist at CK Birla Hospitals, CMRI, Kolkata, fireworks release a combination of fine particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM10, along with sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These pollutants can affect different parts of the respiratory system, depending on their size and chemical composition. "The finer particulate matter has a tendency to enter the lower lungs," explains Dr. Halder, highlighting why exposure…

Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle