The festival of lights wasn’t a time of celebration for everyone. While asthma patients were susceptible to an attack
Doctors say senior citizens and asthma patients are the most-affected The festival of lights wasn’t a time of celebration for everyone. While
asthma patients were susceptible to an attack due to rise in the pollution levels, according to doctors, it was the elderly people who were the worst affected by the boisterous festivities.
“I received several elderly patients with symptoms of respiratory problems, acute headache and fever - all of which were caused by firecrackers. I usually ask senior citizens to leave the city for a few days during Diwali,” said Dr SN Acharya, general practitioner, adding that the constant smoke and noise of firecrackers often aggravated illness, particularly headaches.
However, not everyone had the option to leave the city. Mulund resident Ponmani Vaidyanathan fought a fever and a throbbing headache on the auspicious day, thanks to the non-stop ‘sutli’ bombs being lit in her residential complex. “The air was thick with smoke and the sound made it worse,” said the octogenarian.
Bombay Hospital physician Dr Ashish Tiwari said that the hospital saw a 10% increase in patients due to Diwali. “We had some children with minor burn injuries caused by firecrackers, however, they did not need hospitalisation,” he said.
“People in the 60-plus age group tend to fall ill as they are more susceptible. If they have a weak immune system, they tend to pick up viral infections very easily,” said Dr Shrikant Parikh.
This is because, during the festive season, people tend to shop more and move in over-crowded places, which bring them in contact with other people who may be carrying viral infections, he explained.
Mumbai has more than 10 lakh people who suffer from asthma, whose symptoms get aggravated during Diwali. Burning of fire crackers also aggravates already existing pollution in the air.
According to asthma specialists, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulphide and particulate matter - all of which are present in air polluted by burning of fire crackers - can trigger off a respiratory attack. “The only option is to leave the city. I always plan a holiday during Diwali for health reasons,” said Bhairav Sakharia, Bhuleshwar resident and businessman who suffers from asthma.”
“I haven’t spent Diwali in the city since the last five years to ensure that the smoke doesn’t trigger an asthma attack,” he added.
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