Delhiites are exhausted. For days they haven’t been able to breathe deeply. Fumes and haze are creeping their way into homes and offices.
So how can you minimise the effects of the toxic air? We spoke to Dr Rajesh Chawla, Senior Consultant on Respiratory Medicine, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals for answers.
In the face of such extreme pollution, people should avoid going out, especially during peak traffic hours, Dr Chawla recommends. Still, he recognises that this is difficult for people who have to go to work, so he recommends people go out with a wet handkerchief or air pollution mask. These measures will only prevent air particles from getting into your lungs, though, and they won’t be able to stop toxic gases.
At the end of the day, Dr. Chawla says you should wash your face and change your clothes to prevent carrying pollutants around your home.
But if air pollution continues to skyrocket, taking precautions will only go so far. Many people will develop respiratory illnesses in the coming years, Dr. Chawla expects.
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
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