New Delhi, December 9, 2015: With
air pollution at an all time high in our city, it is becoming crucial that
immediate steps are taken to reduce the environmental burden. Pollution has
various hazardous effects on a person’s health. It precipitates asthma, heart
attacks and COPD. Recent research has also proved that environmental pollution,
especially with high particulate matter PM 2.5 exposure, is linked with
diabetes.
Any
particulate matter of less than 2.5 micro m3 in size can get absorbed from
respiratory system, enter into the blood and release pro–inflammatory products
leading to endothelial dysfunction and resultant diabetes and heart disease.
As
per WHO, the content of PM2.5 in the air should be less than 10 μg/m3. However
in India the levels are always more than 60 μg/m3. In factan60 μg/m3 PM2.5 concentration
has been accepted as normal in India. That means that an Indian is already six
times more exposed to PM2.5 particulate as opposed to his western counterpart. In
India, we find values as high as 300–400 μg/m3 in selected areas on a daily
basis. Constant exposure to PM 2.5 particulates leads to endothelial
dysfunction, one of the major factors for the increasing diabetics in the
country.
Speaking
about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr. A MarthandaPillai – National
President and Padma Shri Awardee Dr. K K Aggarwal, Honorary Secretary General
IMA in a joint statement said, “ Air Pollution is a modifiable risk factor for
development of diabetes in our country. People with a history of diabetes in
the family, at high risk of the disease must take necessary steps to protect
themselves from the harmful air by restricting their outdoor exertion levels.
They must also ensure that they keep a check on their diet and get regular
exercise especially during early mornings when the air is said to be purer.
There is a dire need to raise awareness about the need to reduce environmental
pollution in our country. The air we presently breathe is extremely harmful for
patients with existing lifestyle diseases, the young and the elderly and it is
the responsibility of each citizen to reverse this.”
To
prevent oneself from diabetes, it is advised that one should avoid eating
refined carbohydrates, omit carbohydrates 80 days in a year from diet and avoid
exposure to high PM2.5 pollution matter (which can be checked from the official
governmental website), exercise more and try to eat a diet full of fruits and
vegetables which are live, locally grown and seasonal.
