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New Delhi/NCR, November 05, 2018:
One of the most celebrated festivals of the year, Diwali is a grand occasion, commemorated on a grandeur scale. The festivities are complete with Laxmi Pooja, rangoli decorations, street food, sweets and bright lights. However with Diwali celebrations around the corner, and the on-going stubble burning, Delhi is being engulfed in toxic smoke. The arrival of winter has led to a drop in temperature, causing the fog to combine with the smoke, resulting in the formation of a less transparent, visible air pollutant i.e. smog. Air quality index is very severe in many places.
Fortis Healthcare’s Dr. Avi Kumar, Consultant – Pulmonolgy, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, advices us on how to celebrate Diwali while effectively combating the air pollution and keeping ourselves protected:
- Keep an inhaler within reach: Crackers emit suspended particles (smoke) and toxins gases that can trigger asthma, cause severe headaches, respiratory diseases and chronic cough
- Wear a face mask to stay protected from air pollution and dust
- Avoid exercise outdoors right after Diwali as the pollutant content will be high in the air; People should avoid going outdoors along with doing physical activities like cycling, jogging or any other outdoor exercises
- N95 masks should be used if it is absolutely necessary to go out
- Air Purifying plants such as Aloe Vera, Ivy and Spider Plant can be placed in the home and offices
- To ensure that indoor air pollution does not take place make sure there is a chimney in the kitchen and an exhaust in the bathroom
- Consume Fruits rich in Vitamin C, Magnesium , Foods rich in Omega Fatty Acids
- Have Herbal Ginger and Tulsi tea
Quick Tips on healthy eating during Diwali:
- Be generous while shopping for nuts, seeds and dried fruits, the same should be consumed in a proportionate manner
- Coconut , Jaggery and dark chocolate are healthier options for desserts
- Avoid sweets that have a silver coating as they are covered in aluminium which tends to get deposited in the body tissues.
- Keep a food diary which will help maintain what you eat during a day.
- Nowadays both ‘mithai’ and snacks are available in low-fat, low-sugar and baked versions one should prefer that instead of the traditional sweets.
Some tips on protecting our ears and skin
- Wear protective gear such as ear muffs, ear plugs or cotton balls while bursting crackers.
- Keep the doors and windows of the house closed while celebrating to block out the unwanted noise.
- Create a ‘safe room’: A room which is further away from the rest of the house and where the sound of firecrackers cannot be heard at all.
- Wear thick cotton clothes not synthetic material as the latter tends to catch fire easily.
- Keep antiseptic and medical equipment’s handy in case of an emergency.
- Make sure that water is easily accessible when burning firecrackers, in case there is any mishap.
- Always ensure there is a thick blanket present when burning fire crackers so that a person can be padded if they catch fire
- Immediately apply a lidocaine to ease the pain of a burn.
