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Dr GC Khilnani, Chairman of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at PSRI Hospital has urged Delhi-NCR residents to avoid early morning and evening walks as the air quality worsens. He instead recommends a time slot after sunrise
Doctors are advising Delhi residents to limit outdoor exposure and to keep the doors and windows of their homes closed during early morning and evening hours. (News18 Hindi)
The air quality in Delhi-NCR continues to deteriorate amid stubble burning in neighbouring states, leading to widespread respiratory issues among residents few days before the festival of Diwali. Hospitals are witnessing surge in patients coming in with coughs and respiratory illnesses linked to pollution.
Medical professionals are now advising residents to avoid outdoor activities, including morning and evening walks until pollution levels decrease and the air quality improves.
Should You Stop Early Morning Walks?
Dr GC Khilnani, Chairman of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at PSRI Hospital in New Delhi, has urged Delhi-NCR residents to avoid going outside, especially in the morning and evening, to mitigate the health risks posed by the polluted air.
Dr Khilnani says particulate matter settles close to the ground during the early morning hours due to the absence of wind. As a result, people who go for early morning walks end up inhaling concentrated pollution instead of fresh air. Moreover, the increased oxygen demand during morning exercise leads to deeper inhalation, which increases the intake of pollutants. These harmful particles and carbon enter the lungs and bloodstream, posing significant health risks.
Are Night Walks an Option Then?
Dr Khilnani advises against night walks too as temperatures drop in the evening leading to the pollution layer settling near the ground again. This contributes to the formation of smog after 6-7 PM, which carries a high concentration of pollutants and dust. As a result, evening walks can also negatively impact your health.
The doctor also advises limiting outdoor exposure and keeping doors and windows closed during the early morning and evening hours.
For those unwilling to forgo their daily walks, Dr Khilnani recommends doing so after sunrise when sunlight helps disperse the pollution. The air quality tends to be comparatively better after 8-9 AM, making it a safer time for outdoor activities and exercise.
On Thursday, the air quality index (AQI) settled in the ‘very poor’ category in most areas of the city. At 9am, the city recorded an AQI of 328, with a thick layer of smog shrouding the national capital in the morning hours, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Air quality is classified under four different stages: Stage I ‘Poor’ (AQI 201-300); Stage II ‘Very Poor’ (AQI 301-400); Stage III ‘Severe’ (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV ‘Severe Plus’ (AQI>450).
Dwarka, Rohini, DTU, IGI Airport (T3), ITO, Mundka, Narela, Patparganj, Shadipur, Sonia Vihar, Wazirpur, Alipur, Ashok Vihar, Aya Nagar, Burari, Mandir Marg, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Najafgarh and Nehru Nagar were among 24 areas of the national capital where the AQI was recorded in the ‘very poor’ category on Wednesday and Thursday morning.
During the winter months, Delhi experiences severe pollution, driven by a combination of factors such as low wind speeds, dropping temperatures, high moisture levels and the presence of pollution particles that act as surfaces for condensation.
The deteriorating air quality in the national capital has triggered a 30-40 per cent surge in respiratory issues, with children and the elderly the worst hit.
