Delhi Air Pollution: A dangerous increase in pollution levels is being witnessed in Delhi-NCR and several other regions of the country. Currently, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR is hovering between 300-400 and sometimes even reaching above 500. Air pollution has become a serious threat for health, especially during the winter season, when vehicle smoke, factory pollutants and smoke from burning stubble combine to create heavy smog.
Experts say that this dangerous air quality has a bad impact on people’s life expectancy, heart diseases and respiratory problems. Children, the elderly and people already suffering from some other disease are particularly vulnerable to the long-term impacts of this exposure, experts have warned. Experts also say that during the month of October and the beginning of winter, there is an increase of almost 40% in cases of cardio and respiratory problems, like asthma, which is caused by high levels of pollution.
Delhi Air Pollution: The World Heart Report 2024 by the World Heart Federation (WHF) shows how dangerous is the link between air pollution and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In India, where CVDs are already very prevalent, environmental factors, especially air pollution, have become a major public health challenge. According to the report, air pollution further worsens all major CVDs, including ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke, which together claim millions of lives every year.
Globally in 2019, air pollution was responsible for 22% of IHD and 15% of stroke deaths. In India, where urbanization and industrialization are constantly growing, this situation has become even more serious. Increasing air pollution in the entire country, especially in Punjab and Haryana due to burning of crop residue, is further increasing the burden of heart disease.
Experts are now saying that it is important to pay immediate attention and take action on environmental triggers of CVDs (Cardiovascular Diseases). Indian cardiologists and public health professionals say that it will be difficult to tackle cardiovascular health challenges without addressing pollution.
Focusing more on the effect of pollution on heart health, Dr. Faraz Ahmed Farooqui, Consultant – Cardiology, PSRI Hospital said, “Long-term exposure to air pollution increases endothelium dysfunction and oxidative stress, which are important precursors for cardiovascular diseases. In India, the incidence of conditions like coronary artery disease, stroke and heart failure has increased significantly in polluted areas. These pollutants not only increase blood pressure but also trigger inflammatory responses in the blood vessels, which accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.”
The World Heart Report also highlighted that agricultural practices, especially residue burning in North India, have a very negative impact on air quality. The smoke generated from burning crop stubble causes a spike in particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), which further impairs the cardiovascular health of millions of people.
Delhi Air Pollution: Dr. Praveen Gupta, Principal Director and Chief of Neurology, Fortis Hospital said
“Pollution has a huge impact on human health. It can worsen respiratory problems like COPD and asthma. It also increases the risk of heart disease and is a major cause of cancer.It is also a major risk factor for stroke, cognitive impairment and dementia.
Pollution also has a negative impact on mental health, causing loss of focus, irritability and brain fog. Several researches suggest that air pollution exposure increases the risk of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Poor air quality also has a strong impact on our mental health, increasing the risk of anxiety and depression.”
The main causes of this increasing risk are traffic exhaust fumes, burning wood at home, and the excessive amount of nitrogen dioxide caused by industrial emissions, gardening equipment, power plants, construction, and exhaust fumes.
But this does not mean that we accept air pollution in our daily lives. There are steps we can take to help reduce air pollution in our community, such as using public transportation when possible, reducing the use of wood and coal at home, performing regular vehicle maintenance, and checking our tires regularly.
We can keep ourselves away from places where pollution is high and keep the air inside our homes clean by using filtration systems,” said Dr. Gupta.
Along with outdoor air pollution, indoor air pollution is also a major issue in India, where millions of homes use biomass for cooking. This pollution increases mortality related to ischemic heart disease and stroke, and rural women and children are particularly vulnerable.
Dr. Rajendra Patil, Consultant – Cardiology, Jupiter Hospital said, “The health effects of air pollution are more severe on women and children in villages, as biomass cooking leads to indoor pollution.
Studies show that long-term exposure increases the incidence of hypertension, a major risk factor for heart disease. We need to move towards cleaner cooking options and public health interventions should focus on these vulnerable populations.
Diabetes and obesity are also common in India and are major risk factors for CVDs. It is shown that air pollution impairs glucose handling, increases insulin resistance, and increases the risk of diabetes-related heart conditions “
“Patients with existing comorbidities such as diabetes and obesity are affected by air pollution in two ways. Air pollution also worsens metabolic syndromes, which in turn increases cardiovascular events.
We have observed that when pollution increases, cases of heart failure and ischemic heart disease increase in diabetic patients. We need the link between air pollution and cardiovascular health to be communicated to people.
Given this current situation, we strongly support strong environmental policies at the local and national levels,” said Dr. Sukriti Bhalla, Senior Consultant- Cardiology, Aakash Healthcare.
Experts appealed to policymakers, healthcare professionals and the public to pay attention to the environmental factors that are contributing to the increase in cardiovascular disease in India.
If immediate and sustainable action is not taken, the burden of heart disease will continue to grow, and air pollution will continue to be a silent but deadly contributor.
