We should try and reduce our exposure to normal air and its pollutants because air pollution is reaching serious and grave levels. It is currently in the hazardous category. We can scarce afford the ill effects of air pollution.

Here are some ways to reduce your exposure:

1. All outdoor activity in the early morning hours like cycling, running, jogging and the gym should be put off for the moment. It is better not to conduct these activities during November to January, you can additionally check the Air Quality Index or AQI at Sameer app. Values of less than 300 indicate that you can restart light activities and readings below 200 mean that a healthy population can do all activities. YOGA and other kinds of activities should be kept for the evenings. Also remember that GYMS without air purification are more dangerous.

2. If the AQI is higher than 350, do not send children less than 7 years of age to school. Also request the school to suspend all types of outdoor activities and movements and only move out in the afternoon hours.
3. During these three months, avoid using an agarbatti. Use a ghee lamp instead.
4. Avoid sweeping and mopping in the early hours of the morning because this will re-suspend the settled particles into the air again. It is far better to do wet mopping with warm water and a pinch of baking soda.
5. Walk on side lanes and footpaths because there is direct exposure to contaminants if you walk on the main road.
6. Do not burn anything in the open. Raise an alarm if you see anyone doing it or inform CPCB on their website.

How to increase protection:

1. While riding a motorcycle or walking outdoors, use a good quality of N95/99 masks. Venus /3M masks are also really good. If you don’t have these, at least use a handkerchief. It offers protection to some extent. Dr Himanshu Garg, respiratory and Senior Pulmonologist, Gurgaon, suggests that one should take a one or two valve mask, depending on how much they are exposed to the outside environment. For instance, people engaged in sports should have masks with two valves. People who are out for a normal walk can do with a mask with one valve.
2. When you start your car, the first thing you need to do is open all the windows and re-circulate indoor air to outdoor air for a period of 2 minutes at least. This helps in the dilution of CO concentrates. CO is far more deadly and can be fatal. The air conditioner of the car should be run on indoor circulation for a while. Every car has A/C filters that reduce PM 2.5 by quite a lot.
3. If possible try to use air purifiers at home (only with Hepa, carbon and pre-filter) especially in the children’s room, elderly people and also those who are more sensitive (with respiratory illness) along with pregnant ladies.
4. Even if it is a bright and sunny day, ventilate the room between 3pm and 5pm daily. PM2.5 levels are the lowest at this time.
5. Sprinkle water on the premises and also the road in front of your house in order to settle down the pollutants.

 Some other measures to help you fight air pollution:

1. Increase your intake of vitamin C and Vitamin E, as well as beta carotene because they help in increasing immunity.
2. Have jaggery/gud in order to flush out pollutants from your lungs. Just replace the processed sugar you have with jiggery in all your preparations or simply consume jaggery as it is.

For any consultation around asthma issues, lung problems, respiratory issues and breathing disorders seek expert advice from Dr. Himanshu Garg, Sleep and Respiratory Disorders specialist at Aviss Health!

Call us on – 9871613322, or 0124-4255211/4104679 or mail us at – wecare@avisshealth.com

For more details visit www.avisshealth.com

 (“Issued in Public interest” By: Forum for Air Quality-INDIA, Indian Pollution Control Association, Society for Indoor Environment)