Due to pollution, lungs of 30-year-old youth are becoming like those of 50-year-old elderly

Due to increasing air pollution in India, people's lungs are aging prematurely, with a 30-year-old individual's lungs possessing the same efficiency as a 50-year-old. According to a report by Aaj Tak, renowned lung transplant surgeon Dr. Arvind Kumar has seen many such patients whose physical age may be low, but their lung health condition and working capacity have significantly decreased compared to their age. Dr. Kumar considers rising air pollution as the main reason behind this serious situation.

This problem is particularly worrying for people living in cities like Delhi-NCR, as residents here are forced to breathe toxic air for long periods every year. Dr. Arvind Kumar, Chairman of the Department of Chest Surgery and Lung Transplantation at Medanta – The Medicity Hospital, stated that the age of the lungs can be estimated from their working capacity. To measure this capacity, tests such as pulmonary function and spirometry are conducted. These tests have revealed that many people have experienced a major decline in lung capacity at a very young age, indicating that their lungs are aging prematurely.

Generally, a slight decline in lung capacity is natural with increasing age, but due to pollution, smoking, and other reasons, this decline is now being observed at a very young age. The doctor clarified that some patients are only 30 years old, but their lungs have become like those of a 50-year-old person.

Explaining how pollution damages the lungs, Dr. Arvind Kumar stated that extremely tiny particles present in polluted air enter the lungs through inhalation and cause serious effects there. These fine particles can cause inflammation and irritation in the airways, leading to problems such as coughing, throat discomfort, and difficulty in breathing. If exposure to pollution is reduced, these symptoms may improve, but prolonged exposure to polluted air can have a permanent effect on lung capacity. This increases the risk of people developing serious illnesses ranging from asthma to COPD. The most concerning aspect is that the damage caused by pollution can be permanent in many cases.

Many people believe that once the winter season ends, the threat of pollution also ends and the lungs recover, but Dr. Kumar stated that this is not entirely true. The damage caused by pollution is not always the same; some effects are temporary, while in some cases, the lungs suffer permanent damage. Prolonged exposure to pollution can permanently affect lung efficiency.

The doctor further warned that if the lungs are damaged, it is not necessary for every individual to experience the symptoms immediately. Therefore, in areas where pollution levels are high, children, youth, and the elderly should remain vigilant about their lung health. Especially those who have a persistent cough or those who have a habit of smoking must get their lungs checked. To know the lung capacity in youth, PFT and spirometry tests can be conducted, while for children and the elderly, rhino and audiometry tests can be done as per necessity.

Dr. Arvind Kumar has also cautioned people against claims in the market regarding 'detoxing' the lungs. Some people claim to clean the lungs through special diets or by taking oxygen for 15 minutes. The doctor clarified that there is no magical way to clean the lungs. Accumulated pollution in the lungs cannot be removed through any special diet, inhalation method, or by taking oxygen for a short while.