Protect Your Lungs During Diwali

General
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This image shows a firecracker bursting in a Diwali celebration adn the amount of smoke it produces. The smoke might result in symptoms such as coughing and wheezing.
This image shows a firecracker bursting in a Diwali celebration adn the amount of smoke it produces. The smoke might result in symptoms such as coughing and wheezing.960×1280 301 KB

Diwali is the festival of lights and it brings along with it various fun activities such as bursting crackers, family gatherings, going out, etc.

There is a sudden decrease in air quality during Diwali, which leads to an increased inflow of patients with COPD exacerbations and hospitalizations. The number of admissions goes up to 20 times higher than any other day.

  • Bursting crackers releases significant amounts of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10), and heavy metals into the air.

  • In some parts of India, post-harvest agricultural burning also affects air quality.

  • Weather changes—cooler temperatures and low wind speed—create a thick layer of smog that stays in the atmosphere for a few days.

  • Vehicle exhaust, industrial dust, and construction dust already contribute to poor air quality.

Symptoms/how this air pollution can affect you:
Airway and throat irritation, coughing and wheezing, breathlessness, worsening of COPD, asthma flare-ups, and increased respiratory inflammation.

The people who are more vulnerable to this are: children, older adults, people with asthma, people with COPD, and outdoor workers.

What are the precautionary measures that we can take?

  • Keep monitoring the local air quality and limit outdoor activities such as exercise. Reschedule your daily walks and runs when the air quality is a little better. Avoid areas with heavy smoke/firecrackers.

  • Keep the windows closed during poor air quality. Use good-quality air filters at home.

  • When going out, wearing a mask is necessary. Always keep your respirator ready. Stay away from firecrackers.

  • Continue taking your prescribed medications and keep them accessible.

Do you think there should be some rules to limit the usage of firecrackers?

MBH/AS

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The Strict rules should be passed for both air and noise pollution. As both effects the neonates along with elderly people and people who are sensitive for both. Green firecrackers should be taken into effectiveness which produce fewer emission and lower noise levels. As we know that now-a-days the health of people is being effected easily mainly on lungs due to smoking and ear drums due to continuos usage of bluetooth,headphones or usage of speakers. So this diwali let’ make it real “Festival of lights with Diyas” rather than crackers and loud noises

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Absolutely! These should be incorporated in almost every state, no matter what.

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As someone who’s born asthmatic , could relate to this . The smoke of the diwali crackers makes it impossible to breathe and trigger my lungs easily .During those days I’ll isolate myself in a closed room . Thanks for the awareness :raising_hands:t2:

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