As winter tightens its grip on northern India, enveloping cities like Delhi in a thick blanket of fog, concerns extend beyond the realm of travel disruptions and accident risks. Dr. Akshay Budhraja, Senior Consultant and HOD-Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Aakash Healthcare, New Delhi, sheds light on the often-overlooked health implications of dense fog and the subsequent formation of smog.
“Fog, in its natural state, primarily poses dangers in terms of visibility for drivers, leading to accidents,” explains Dr. Budhraja. However, when fog intermingles with pollutants, it transforms into smog, a significant health hazard. Unlike fog, which typically dissipates after sunrise, smog lingers throughout the day, maintaining a breathable level.
Air pollutants, when combined with fog to create smog, elevate the risk of lung infections, particularly in children, notes the American Lung Association (ALA). The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously stated that particle pollution, a component of smog, can contribute to lung cancer, a leading global cause of cancer-related deaths.
Exposure to smog can trigger asthma attacks, induce coughing, and cause breathing difficulties, warns Dr. Budhraja. The health ramifications extend to eye irritation, skin diseases, throat irritation and infection, rhinitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, and exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Dr. Budhraja emphasizes, “It [fog] compromises the lungs’ defense mechanism, leading to lung infections, such as pneumonia, and chronic exposure is linked to various cancers as well.”
Is It Safe To Exercise Outdoors Amid Fog and Smog?
In the midst of dense fog, the probability of heightened smog levels increases, posing potential health risks. Dr. Budhraja advises against outdoor exercise during such conditions. Instead, he recommends opting for indoor workouts, with a cautionary note about indoor air pollutants. To safeguard indoor air quality, he suggests using indoor plants and air purifiers when necessary.
Who Should Exercise Extra Caution?
Individuals acutely exposed to smog may exhibit symptoms such as coughing, discolored phlegm production, throat pain, and breathing difficulty. Those at elevated risk include very young children, the elderly, and individuals with comorbidities like Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), asthma, and COPD.
Dr. Budhraja concludes with a stark warning, stating, “Fog, chilly weather, and air pollution form a deadly combination, posing a threat to every person and increasing the risk of sudden myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke, pneumonia, and acute attacks of asthma/COPD.”
