The Delhi government has ordered three large hospitals to open pollution clinics and smaller centers to have specialized teams to handle the spike of patients expected to suffer from respiratory and other pollution-related diseases in the nation’s capital after Diwali.
According to a top health department official, the capital’s medical facilities are equipped to handle a potential spike in ailments linked to pollution that could be brought on by the pollution caused by Diwali.
“Three of our major hospitals–Lok Nayak, Guru Teg Bahadur and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality hospital–will have dedicated pollution clinics. Other smaller facilities, including mohalla clinics will also start dedicated teams tackling pollution related patients,” mentioned the official.
According to government hospital estimates, the number of patients seeking care for respiratory distress, allergies, congestion, and other conditions brought on by the worsening AQI experienced a notable increase last month.
According to medical professionals, the high levels of pollution outside are the cause of at least 100–150 patients’ distress reports each day in the hospital’s outpatient departments. However, for the majority of individuals, it only manifests as headaches, itchy eyes, worsened allergies, and respiratory issues brought on by extended outside exposure.
“The current level of pollution can reduce lungs and later on body’s defence mechanism, leading to pneumonia, bronchitis, pharyngitis, conjunctivitis, both allergic, as well as infective. It leads to significant reduction in lung functions. Chronic exposure to this level of pollution can lead to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), lung cancer, hypertension, heart attacks, stroke, anxiety, sleep disorders and poor control of already existing diseases like diabetes, hypertension, asthma,” averred Dr Akshay Budhraja, senior consultant, respiratory and sleep medicine at Aakash Healthcare.
