AIIMS: Cold wave, pollution surging heart diseases, COPD, asthma cases in Delhi

Cold waves with dipping temperatures along with severe air pollution are driving a sharp rise in heart and respiratory illnesses in the national capital said health experts at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS DelhiThe experts highlighted the precautions that should be taken in various comorbidities and extremes of age and the precautions one can take when there is any health issueProf Rajiv Narang HOD Department of Cardiology AIIMS shared how to deal with conditions like coronary artery disease and cardiovascular disease in these extreme cold conditions which occur mainly due to reduced blood supply to the heart musclesIt is very cold these days and there is much discussion about how to take care of your health When it comes to heart disease there are a few important things to keep in mind Especially during winter there is a tendency for blood pressure to riserdquo Narang told IANSldquoMany patients who previously had their blood pressure well under control now report an increase To manage this it is recommended to have a blood pressure monitor at home and check your BP at least twice a week Blood pressure monitors are now affordable and easy to use If your BP exceeds 14090 mmHg you should consult your doctor he added while also advising proper diet and hydrationHe also recommended against morning walks due to extreme cold conditions as well as increasing pollution levels in the cityIt is very important to maintain body temperature during winter Avoid going out in the early morning or late evening Perform daily activities especially for the elderly during the daytime preferably after 11 am when the sun is up Stay active but do so safely Dr Abhijith R Rao Department of Geriatric Medicine AIIMS told IANSDr Sanjeev Sinha a Professor of Medicine at AIIMS highlighted the risk of respiratory diseases due to the cold wave and pollutionldquoDuring a cold wave exposure to cold air can trigger bronchospasm When a patient inhales cold air through the nostrils the airways can constrict leading to narrowing or closure of the respiratory passages and difficulty in breathingrdquo he saidThe expert noted an increase in patients in the AIIMS Delhi OPD and emergency departments due to COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease a condition commonly associated with a history of smoking indoor pollution or outdoor pollutionldquoPatients with COPD often present with coughing wheezing and breathlessness Many of them come with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis especially during cold weather Due to increased exposure and lowered immunity some patients also develop pneumoniardquo Sinha saidHe urged elderly individuals and patients suffering from chronic bronchitis emphysema COPD or bronchial asthma to take extra precautions during cold waves to protect their respiratory healthPaediatrician Prof Rakesh Lodha highlighted the need to also care about childrenrsquos health and physical wellbeing this winterYoung children are particularly vulnerable to problems caused by cold exposure To protect them they should wear warm clothing and be properly covered including using a cap for their head Handkerchiefs or scarves can also help reduce exposure he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever