Skymet’s prediction of rain in the entire north India with chances of thick fog in Delhi coupled with a sudden dip in temperatures by almost 7⁰C in the last two days, came true. This could therefore spell health problems for all age groups, particularly the children and the old, like it does each year. As fog in Delhi could last for a couple of days, infirm are more at risk and should be more careful against the increasing number of flu, virals and cold in kids, warns Himani Gupta, a private doctor.
Fog in Delhi every year raises health concerns for people who suffer from sinus or respiratory diseases like asthma. As the air becomes damp and heavy during fog in Delhi, breathing becomes difficult and leads to serious chest congestions. Some doctors also confirm the fact that the sale of breathing inhalers for stressful asthmatic patients goes way up when the winter weather in Delhi gets extremely cold and foggy. Elderly heart and high blood pressure patients are not very safe either. As fog in Delhi increases, cholesterol issues become a common complaint.
Dr Himani Gupta tells us that the number of cases of respiratory problems reported everyday, when the fog in Delhi becomes dense, are about 40 to 50 easily. She also adds that children are more at risk due to dense fog in Delhi and north India as the high humidity levels lead to inflammation, thus causing respiratory infections.
We suggest some health tips one should keep in mind during days of fog in Delhi.
TIPS:
- Stay indoors as much as you can when the levels of fog in Delhi are high.
- If you must go outside, limit outdoor activity to the early morning hours. Studies have shown that sunny weather makes one feel way healthier than in the dull, grey weather.
- Don't exercise or exert yourself outdoors when air-quality levels are not so safe and fog is thick. The faster you breathe, the more pollution you will take in. Asthamic patients have increased wheezing when they breathe in damp air.
