Lucknow: Want to save your lungs and heart? Do not go out in smog hours, say doctors

LUCKNOW: Smog city Lucknow may not have jolted the authorities out of their slumber, but has definitely set off alarm bells in the medical circuit.

Doctors are advising people with respiratory and cardiac problems, the elderly, pregnant women and children to avoid venturing out early in the morning and before sundown, when the smog is dense.
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Head of respiratory medicine at King George’s Medical University professor Suryakant told TOI that superfine particles present in the atmosphere could damage lungs, cause bronchitis and emphysema (damage to air sacs or alveoli in lungs) and even trigger lung cancer.
“Children, pregnant women and the elderly are more vulnerable since their immunity is lower than others. The concentration of pollutants in the morning is highest and hence, they are advised not to go outside without precautions,” he said.
“Particulate matter could spur sudden and fatal breathlessness in asthma and COPD patients. They should keep inhalers with them at all times,” he added.
Doctors said chances of prolonged hospitalisation for heart patients were high if they acquired respiratory infection. “When a heart patient gets lung infection, the chance of mortality increases manifold. Pollutants can also push up blood pressure, which is a major cause of heart attacks,” said cardiologist Dr Askhay Pradhan.
Pollutants in the air are perilous for the eyes too, as they spur dryness and infections like conjunctivitis. “Avoid staying outdoors for long and wash eyes with drinking water as much as possible,” advised ophthalmologist Siddharth Agarwal.