Can Air Pollution Cause Heart Disease, Dengue, and Asthma? Know What WHO Says

WHO took to Twitter to show that the rising air pollution levels are harmful to our health and how children are being affected by this. The AQI in Delhi- NCR has been in the headlines for a long time now and it is indeed a major cause of concern. 

WHO writes, in adults, ischemic heart disease and stroke are the most common causes of premature death attributable to outdoor air pollution, and evidence is also emerging of other effects such as diabetes and neurodegenerative conditions. The climate crisis hassled to heat waves, floods, storms, and many other diseases affecting our lives, livelihood, and our health.

The climate crisis threatens our health, driving diseases like cancer, asthma, heart disease, and mosquito-borne diseases like dengue.

Also, WHO, through graphics mentioned the other ill effects like dehydration, heat strokes, and heat cramps and also a guide to protecting yourself by keeping yourself well hydrated, keeping your home cool, and protecting yourself from the sun.

Every year, around 7 million deaths and due to exposure to both outdoor and household air pollution.

Sources of air pollution (As per WHO):

Industry and energy supply, Transport, Agricultural practices, waste management, household energy, and dust.

WHO also mentions the solution to air pollution, which includes investing in energy-efficient power generation, improving domestic, industrial, and municipal waste management, making greener and more compact cities with energy-efficient buildings, reducing agricultural waste incineration, forest fires, and certain Agro-forestry activities.

Reality check:

The total AQI in Delhi was at 431, in Noida (UP) was at 529 this Saturday, 478 in Gurugram (Haryana) and 534 near Dhirpur, making Delhi -NCR fall under the 'Severe' category.

Foods for protection from pollution:

A good diet can actually help you lower the ill effects of air pollution a little. Having a strong immune system. Eating foods rich in nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants can help in the long run. Vitamin C and E -enriched food, Beta Carotene, and Warm Lemon Juice are some examples of foods that help you get protected from the ill effects of pollution.

How worse it can get:

Exposure to polluted air for a long period of time can lead to many health issues, be it respiratory problems, reduced lung function, and asthma. Stroke, heart diseases, pregnancy-related issues – low-birth weight, small for gestational age, pneumonia, cataract, diabetes, neurological issues, pulmonary diseases, and even cancer are other side effects of air pollution for humans. We have seen the number of cancer cases rising every year and air pollution is one of the reasons for this.

But how it impacts us like this:

As per WHO, the principal mechanism through which air pollution affects people is the respiratory system. Breathing in these pollutants causes cells all over our body to become inflamed, under oxidative stress, immunosuppressed, and mutagenic, which affects the lungs, heart, and brain among other organs, and eventually results in disease.