Delhi's air quality turns 'severe': Doctors offer tips to tackle poor AQI

Come Diwali, the air in India's capital city, Delhi, starts choking its residents with toxic gases and soot particles, alongside the regular exhaust from vehicles and industrial emissions, coupled with the winter season. At the moment, the average Air Quality Index in Delhi stands at 'Very Poor' (301 to 400), though it has spiked to 'severe' (402 to 500) in many parts.

The winter air pollution has been worsening in Delhi since around 2015 as per reports, though it's been steadily worsening due to the industrialisation and vehicular growth in the 90s. Regardless, how can the residents here stay safe? Here are a few tips that Delhi-based pulmonologists Dr Arvind Kumar and former AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria shared with NDTV. 

How to stay safe
a) Avoid coming out of the house, especially if you are elderly and have lung or heart diseases. 
b) If you are an immunocompromised person, have had chemotherapy, or are suffering from any chronic diseases, stay at home; do not venture out. 
c) Use air purifiers in the house
d) Do not resort to outdoor exercises
e) If you can't avoid going out, use N95 masks. Make sure the nose and mouth are properly sealed.

f) If at all you are wearing an N95 mask, do not exercise, climb stairs or resort to strenuous activities. 
g) Keep tracking the air quality levels and keep the windows and doors shut to minimise the entry of polluted air into the homes.
h) If you are on regular medication, do not skip it. Those with chronic respiratory or heart conditions should also consult doctors if symptoms are getting worse.

Other helpful tips
a) Avoid lighting incense sticks, candles or mosquito coils that elevate indoor particulate matter levels.
b) Switch on exhaust fans while cooking.
c) Only wet mop your floors; avoid dry sweeping
d) Hydrate regularly to keep the respiratory tract moist and flush out toxins
e) Consume an antioxidant-rich diet heavy in Vitamin A, C and E. 
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