Mithila Sawai (35), a human resource executive staying in Wadala has left the city to spend the weekend with her family in Himachal Pradesh. For asthmatic, Sawai, this is the only way she can escape from Diwali pollution.
City-based chest physicians confirm that asthmatic patients prefer to go to a cleaner and quieter place to avoid the smoke and noise pollution. Mumbai has a population of over one million suffering from some stage of asthma. It also witnesses a three-fold rise in asthma and other upper respiratory cases especially during Diwali.
"I plan to travel head up north, so that I don't have to face the city's pollution. Three years back, I was hospitalised during Diwali because the pollution aggravated my condition. This year, the festival falls on the weekend and makes it perfect for me to travel," said Sawai.
Why do people leave city during Diwali?
Dr Jalil Parker, chest physician, Lilavati Hospital, said, "Many of my patients leave the city to avoid the smoke created during this time. The ones who can't afford to travel far off, prefer to go to a village nearby."
Due to change in the weather, people are already suffering from respiratory diseases.
What about people, who can't leave the city?
The experts say that the asthma patients who can't afford to leave the city, should be prepared with inhalers. "Apart from staying away from smoke, patients should have their inhalers with them and adhere to their prescribed medicine. Even healthy people might suffer from coughing, wheezing and breathlessness," said Dr Jaising Phadtare, professor of pulmonary diseases, Grant medical college.
Dr Mukesh Sanklecha, consulting pediatric pulmonologist, Bombay Hospital, said, "More children are getting asthma. This problem is acute in Mumbai. Parents need to be aware when they buy firecrackers for them."
How do firecrackers cause the problem?
Gaseous air pollutants emitted from firecrackers aggravate the risk of an attack in asthmatics. Such pollutants also have the potential to cause new cases of asthma. Crackers are one of the provoking factors for childhood bronchial asthma, it has now been established that 26% of people without any prior history of respiratory ailments develop symptoms of coughing, wheezing and breathlessness especially during Diwali.
The reason is that crackers contain 75% potassium nitrate, 15% carbon and 10% sulphur, and when they are burnt, harmful gases such as sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, manganese and even cadmium, are released, which irritate the delicate airways of lungs and worsen the condition of people with pulmonary diseases.
Doctors say that it is crucial to have an intake of nutritious diet consisting of homecooked meals, fresh fruits and vegetables.
According to the Asthma and Bronchitis Association of India, incidence of paediatric asthma is rising steadily. Around 10-12% children are complaining of asthma, bronchitis or other respiratory disorders and the numbers are on a rise.
According to the association of Otalaryngologists of India, Mumbai alone has 1.5 million patients of chronic sinusitis.
Five years ago, out of the 100 patients only 7-8 people suffered from sinusitis but now we see at least 50 out of 100 suffering from sinusitis.
The association of Otalaryngologists of India say the prevalence rate of the disease among bikers and those who use public transport is 12.6%.
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