Respiratory ailments rise amid increasing pollution in Delhi-NCR, efficacy of medicines declines

The continuous rise in pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR region has begun to show a severe impact on the health of the general public. Difficulties have increased manifold, especially for those suffering from respiratory diseases. The situation has become so critical that old medicines are no longer effective for many patients, forcing doctors to modify their treatment. A large number of such patients are arriving for treatment at AIIMS hospital in Delhi.

Providing further information on this matter, Dr. Saurabh Mittal, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at AIIMS Delhi, stated that symptoms have become more severe in respiratory patients due to the increase in pollution. Due to rising pollution levels, common medicines are no longer proving to be effective. To tackle this situation and improve the condition of patients, doctors are having to increase the doses of their medicines. In some cases, it has become necessary to increase the dose of inhalers provided to patients, while some patients are having to be given entirely new medicines.

According to Dr. Saurabh Mittal, there has been a significant increase in the troubles of patients who were already fighting respiratory illnesses. Changes are currently being made in the treatment method to reduce their cough and difficulty in breathing. In the case of some severe patients, along with increasing the dose of inhalers, they are also being given oral steroids. This step has been taken because the problems of these patients have increased to such an extent that they are not being controlled by common medicines.

The most worrying aspect is that people who have never had any such trouble before are now approaching doctors with respiratory-related problems. In these new patients, symptoms such as cough, irritation in the throat, irritation in the nose, and shortness of breath are primarily being observed. Such patients also require appropriate treatment and relief-providing medicines based on their symptoms, which indicates that pollution has now become a risk not only for sick people but also for healthy individuals.

Speaking about the reasons behind the increase in pollution in Delhi, Dr. Mittal clarified that this problem did not arise in a single day or due to a single reason. It is a complex process in which several factors are responsible. At the beginning of winter, when the weather changes and the amount of moisture in the air increases, pollution-causing particles accumulate close to the ground, which deteriorates the air quality.

Additionally, other man-made reasons also contribute significantly to this pollution. Toxic smoke from vehicles, dust flying during construction activities, and smoke from the process of stubble burning in fields after harvesting push the pollution levels to the sky. The combination of all these reasons is making the air of Delhi-NCR toxic, which is directly affecting people's lungs and respiratory systems.

According to a report by Aaj Tak, the number of patients in hospitals has increased due to pollution, and doctors have warned that if pollution is not controlled, the health crisis could escalate further. These symptoms are being observed more rapidly especially in children and the elderly, leading to increased pressure on the medical sector.