GS Hospital Blog

Best Neuro Hospital in UP | Best Heart Hospital in Uttar Pradesh

How does air pollution affect human health and what is the prevention?

Published On : November 21, 2023

We are all aware of the rise of air pollution particularly in Delhi these days. Air pollution has a major impact on human health. It can give rise to many problems causing major health conditions. It is important to take care of our health with preventive measures to avoid air pollution.

In this context, GS Hospital Hapur, the Top Heart Care Hospital in Ghaziabad takes an initiative to bring about awareness about air pollution and its prevention for the overall well-being of everyone. The hospital aims to help people fight air pollution and win over it with the right corrective measures. This is not only important for patients having respiratory issues, but also heart issues or neurological problems which may be triggered due to air pollution. Yes, air pollution is one of the major causative factors which affects many systems of the body.

In this blog, we shall explore what exactly is air pollution, its causes, effects, and preventive measures with a perfect solution to stay healthy.

How does air pollution affect human health and what is the prevention?

What is air pollution?

Air pollution is contamination of air due to natural or artificial elements found in the environment which is hazardous to human beings. There are many types of pollutants which may result in polluted air. These may be in the form of particulate pollutants which include solid, liquid, or gas.

Awareness of different types of pollution is a must in order to avoid and take preventive measures to control pollution. Let us check out the types of air pollution in the next part of the article.

Types of air pollution

The two main types of air pollution are as follows:

1. Indoor Pollution

Indoor pollution mainly includes -

  • Household combustion or chemicals in the kitchen
  • Mold and pollen entering the house
  • Tobacco smoke
  • Construction materials such as lead and asbestos
2. Outdoor Pollution

Outdoor pollution mainly includes -

  • Particles from burning gas and coal
  • Carbon monoxide
  • Industrial emission of harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides or sulfur dioxide
  • Ground level ozone
  • Pollution due to transportation
  • Microbial decaying process of garbage waste

Types of air pollutants

The types of air pollutants are as follows:

Primary air pollutants

The primary air pollutants are responsible for directly causing air pollution. One of the major forms of primary air pollutants is sulfur dioxide emitted from industrial sectors.

Secondary air pollutants

The secondary air pollutants are considered as reactions of primary air pollutants. Eg. Smog is caused by the reaction of smoke with fog which is known as a secondary air pollutant.

Causes of air pollution

The causes of air pollution are as follows:

  • Burning of fossil fuels
  • Automobile and transportation
  • Chemicals from factories and industries
  • Domestic sources or household repair work
  • Mining activities
  • Agricultural activities
  • Smoking tobacco or recreational activities

The main reason behind air pollution is global warming and ozone layer depletion.

Global Warming

Global warming mainly occurs due to the emission of the greenhouse effect causing depletion in oxygen levels and affecting the composition of air. This leads to an increase in the earth’s temperature causing global warming. Ultimately, it affects the oxygen supply to the various systems of the body which includes the respiratory system or lungs, nervous system or brain, and cardiac systems or heart causing many troubles affecting the overall well-being.

Ozone Layer Depletion

The release of chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere is the major cause of depletion of the ozone layer which protects the earth from UV rays causing skin and eye issues.

The impact of air pollution

The extent of health issues due to air pollution may differ depending on the exposure. The exposure of a particular pollutant may differ which includes long-term and short-term exposure.

The effects of air pollution may range from mild to severe depending on various factors such as age group, patient’s health, pre-existing conditions, comorbidities, and other chronic factors. They range from cardiac issues to neurological issues which can be a major threat to life. Let’s explore more about the effects of air pollution in the next part of the article.

Effects of air pollution

Air is a very important factor in breathing. The major problem with air pollution is that it is invisible most of the time, but it can have a negative impact on health. It is unimaginable how air pollution can have adverse effects on various systems of the body. The air pollutants can threaten human health in many ways. The effects and health risks of breathing polluted air are explained below.

1. Asthmatic Attacks

Air pollution can trigger the frequency of asthmatic attacks causing breathlessness, wheezing, and other respiratory issues. This is mainly due to the inhalation of ozone and particle pollution. Asthmatic patients need to take care of air pollution to prevent breathlessness attacks.

2. Premature Death

As per research, it has been confirmed that both short-term and long-term exposure to polluted air can shorten the overall span of a healthy life. This may lead to premature aging and death by cellular death due to a reduced supply of oxygen. Oxygen is a must through blood supply to all parts of the body.

3. Cardiovascular Disease

Air pollution can increase the risk of both heart attacks and stroke. This can have a major impact on heart health. Inhalation of particulate pollutants can clog arteries of the heart as the oxygen and blood travel from the lungs to the heart and other systems of the body. This can have a major impact on the functional capacity of the heart.

4. Lung Cancer

Polluted air is one of the major causative factors of lung cancer. As per research, it has been confirmed that air pollution triggers an alarming response causing inflammation and activation of dormant cells carrying cancer-causing mutations.

5. Prone to recurrent cold and cough infections

Air pollution increases the risk of lung infections making people more susceptible and prone to recurrent cold and cough infections. Recurrent cold and cough infections have a direct impact on the overall immunity of the person.

6. Delayed development in children

Air pollution has a major impact on children which can affect adulthood directly or indirectly. This can stunt the lung development in growing children, harming their health due to air pollution. This reduces the functional capacity of the lung resulting in a lack of oxygen supply and affecting the overall productivity of the child.

7. COPD

COPD or chronic obstructive lung disease is a major problem that causes the narrowing of the air passages. This is mainly seen in smokers or people living in highly polluted areas where the Air Quality Index (AQI) is very low. Severe symptoms can cause hospitalization or even death.

8. Lung tissue irritation or swelling

Air pollution can cause major inflammation of the lining of the lungs affecting the relaxation and contraction of the respiratory systems which helps in inhalation and exhalation of the air. For those having pre-existing lung conditions, asthma and COPD may be more harmful.

9. Low infant birth weight

Many studies have proven that exposure to air pollution can cause an increase in the risk of low birth weight and infant mortality. It is recommended for pregnant ladies to take air pollution measures to avoid any adverse effects or complications during delivery.

10. Neurological effects

Air pollution causes inhalation of toxins which may directly affect the brain. Reduced oxygen supply can cause brain cells to die causing hypoxia and giving rise to many neurological problems.

Well, the list doesn't end here. Air pollution has major effects on the entire well-being of the nation. GS Hospital takes an initiative to bring about major revolutionary changes with preventive measures for air pollution which is discussed in the next part of the article.

Symptoms of air pollution

The main symptoms of air pollution are as follows:

  • Breathlessness
  • Cough
  • Dizziness
  • Chest pain and congestion
  • Vomiting
  • Confusion
  • Headache
  • Feeling Uneasy
  • Lower energy levels
  • Asthma like symptoms like wheezing
  • Eye irritation
  • Itchy skin or allergy
  • Throat irritation
  • Recurrent cold and cough infections

Preventive measures to be taken for air pollution

The best preventive measures to be taken for air pollution are as follows:

  • Go Green
  • Buy electric energy-efficient vehicles
  • Plant a garden
  • Avoid usage of plastic bags
  • Make use of solar energy
  • Quit smoking
  • Opt for recycling products
  • Use a face mask to avoid pollution
  • Install anti-air pollution devices to prevent pollution
  • Use portable monitors to check for Air Quality Index (AQI)

A Caring Note from GS Hospital

GS Hospital, the Best Heart Hospital in Uttar Pradesh, understands the importance of oxygen supply to the brain and heart which is a must for every human. This hospital focuses on spreading a caring note for all its patients to avoid air pollution for the effective functioning of all the body cells. This truly makes the GS Hospital one of the top 10 Neurology Hospitals in Uttar Pradesh.

Air pollution is considered harmful to overall well-being. Along with respiratory and cardiac problems, it can also have a major impact on the overall productivity of an individual affecting daily activities. It is important to follow the preventive measures to control air pollution to keep these problems at bay.

Best Hospital in Noida | Top Care Heart Hospital in Ghaziabad