Air Pollution: Health Effects More Than Imagined
Living in a public environment, most people are exposed to polluted air. Although many measures are being taken to improve air quality, the negative health impacts of air pollution still exist in many parts of the world, including in developed regions.
Air pollution affects everyone and is the leading cause of death from non-communicable diseases, second only to tobacco smoking. Short-term and long-term exposure to air pollution can affect the health of both children and adults. In children, breathing poor air quality can cause stunted growth and reduced lung function, as well as causing respiratory infections and exacerbating asthma.
For adults, ischemic heart disease and stroke are the most common causes of premature death from outdoor air pollution. Studies have also linked air pollution to diabetes, brain disorders in children (such as learning disabilities, developmental delays, autism, attention deficit, or hyperactivity), and neurodegenerative conditions in adults (including Alzheimer's disease).
Air pollution seriously affects human health. Photo: Reuters
How to protect your health from air pollution?
Faced with the alarming effects of air pollution, experts give people tips on how to protect their health in the following ways:
- Limit going out during rush hour: This is a measure to reduce exposure to environmental pollution. During rush hour, traffic volume often increases, leading to increased emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants from vehicles, causing people to inhale more fine dust.
- Use a mask: Masks help block dust particles and pollutants from the air, reducing the possibility of inhaling harmful agents. Masks can protect well, helping to prevent bacteria, viruses and other pathogens from entering the respiratory tract. Note that choosing the right mask and using it properly is important, you should use specialized masks such as 3M, Xiaomi Purely... or if not, you can completely use a medical mask but remember to stack 2 before using.
- Avoid outdoor activities: Outdoor activities can be done during times when air pollution levels are lower, such as early morning or late evening. Avoid going out during rush hour when traffic and greenhouse gas emissions are high.
- Healthy diet: Changing to a healthy diet is an important measure to strengthen the body's resistance. It is necessary to supplement foods rich in vitamins and nutrients. For example, foods rich in vitamin A such as avocado, sweet potatoes, carrots and animal liver, foods rich in vitamin C such as oranges, strawberries, mangoes, broccoli and papaya... Supplementing vitamin E will protect the body from cell damage, helping to increase the productivity of the immune system. To increase vitamin E for the body, eat lots of green vegetables, whole grains, egg yolks, butter and vegetable oils.
- Use an air purifier: Air purifiers are capable of removing dust particles, bacteria, viruses, pollen and other pollutants from the air, helping to clean the air. Air purifiers help improve the air quality inside the home, where more pollutants can accumulate than outside.
With the increasing level of air pollution across the globe, adopting health protection measures is more important than ever. By implementing the above list of measures, people can be assured of protecting their health in the face of the serious air situation.
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