Delhi AQI nears 400 (Credits: iStock)
\n\nAs Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) inches towards 400, stepping outside is no longer just an uncomfortable experience. Every breath carries a cocktail of pollutants that can irritate the respiratory tract, trigger inflammation and put additional pressure on the heart and lungs. While the effects may begin with something as ordinary as itchy eyes or a scratchy throat, prolonged exposure can have consequences that go much deeper.
\n\nBut what exactly happens inside your body when you spend 24 hours breathing severely polluted air? According to Dr. Prashant Saxena, Chairperson, Respiratory Diseases & Critical Care, Sleep Medicine, Allergy & Lung Transplantation, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram, "PM2.5 is the biggest villain" when it comes to air pollution. These fine particulate matter particles are roughly 30 times thinner than a human hair, allowing them to bypass the body's initial defences, penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.
\n\nThe damage begins sooner than most people realise. Within the first few hours of exposure, the eyes, nose and throat may become irritated. Sneezing, watery eyes, a runny nose and a scratchy throat are some of the earliest signs. The body's natural defence system also swings into action.
Original source: https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle
