Air pollution can be detrimental to human health. It can cause serious health issues with further complications and even death.
The best approach is to reduce air pollution’s harm to your health.
However, let us begin to examine the effect of air pollution on the body and the ways to reduce air pollution.
Health Conditions that Could Arise from Air Pollution
- Respiratory disease
Air pollution can cause respiratory disease that can cause difficulty in the lung. It also leads to health conditions like asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Respiratory diseases are extremely detrimental as there are few solutions to their resulting conditions.
- Cardiovascular disease
There are some particulate matters in air pollution. These matters can trigger artery calcification and damage the activities of the blood vessel. Also, pollutants like oxides of nitrogen have been studied to speed up menopause in women. The oxides could also increase the risk of suffering from hemorrhagic stroke.
Another cardiovascular disease that air pollutants could trigger begins by reducing the level of lipoprotein in the body. These proteins are called good cholesterol and they offer great health benefits to the heart. Any form of damage to them is gradual damage to the heart. Air pollutants could cause hypertensive disorders, maternal illness, fetal ailment, stillbirth, or even death.
- Cancer
According to medical efforts, it has been discovered that air pollutant is a major cause of breast cancer. The pollutants contain harmful substances like methylene chloride that are used in paint removers and aerosol products. The chemical increases the risk of suffering from breast cancer.
Also, some industrial workers that were exposed to benzene and other harmful industrial chemical are reported to suffer from Leukemia related to non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
Lung cancer is another resulting condition from exposure to air pollution. It is the reason smokers are warned that smoking can cause them to die young because of its effect on this respiratory organ – the lungs.
Who are those Affected by Air Pollutants?
It is no surprise that there are different levels of concerns for different age groups. Sometimes, a condition can cause more harm to a man and have a lesser effect on a woman. Some conditions could also have a far-reaching implication in children and hardly affect adults. The situation is the same with air pollution.
Children are found to be the commonest victim as they are always exposed to air pollution during their plays. Men are affected in high numbers too because of their industrial exposure and frequent smoking. For women, the risk is higher in pregnant women.
However, the truth is that everyone in the city has a higher level of risk than people in the rural areas.
How Can a Man or Woman Stay Healthy despite the Air Pollution?
Sometimes, we cannot help our immediate environment to eliminate air pollution and its effects. We can only reduce how much pollutants we contribute to the system. However, there are ways to stay healthy in “a polluted space”
Wear a mask
The use of a mask has been an effective way to control foreign bodies from gaining access into the body.
The mask filters poisonous particles that may try to reach the lungs. Surgeons and other medical practitioners wear the N95 type of mask to reduce their risk of contracting a contagious disease.
Do not exercise outside
Since the environment is not healthy enough, you should cut down your presence in it. Although exercise is important, it only makes sense to the degree of a clean atmosphere.
You may change your daily runs and walks from morning to evening when air pollution has reduced drastically.
Watch out for high traffic areas
High traffic areas have a higher level of pollution. For men or women with allergy conditions to irritants or lowered lung function, stay away from these areas.
However, if passing those places is a must, a protective facemask is a reliable “savior” from the pollutant and its effect.
Always be in a well-ventilated atmosphere
One may think, it is better to shut my windows and doors to reduce pollutants from the city from getting into their room. Then, they may use an air conditioner to keep the room cool all day.
Well, doing this is just worse because indoor pollutions are as dangerous as outdoor pollution.
The room needs proper ventilation to help the body’s immune system. It is fresh air that removes stale air and keeps the room fresh. Pay attention to times of low pollution or low hours of commuting to open the doors and windows.
Deliberately stay away from the city
The body cannot always process negative things; it will break down in a short time. Hence, it is proper to give the body rest and help the body’s immune system. Take some trips away from the city into locations with less pollution.
It does not have to be a trip to Santorini or Bali. It could be a rural area or an isolated region that is far from the city. Doing this regularly will keep the body in its right state.
Other healthy tips that will help one to live long despite the heavy pollution are;
- Drink more warm fluids from vegetables to cleanse the body’s passages.
- Seal food properly to prevent contamination
- Grow indoor plants like Spider Plant, Aloe Vera, and Areca Palms as they are good natural air purifiers
- Do not invest in activities that may increase pollution around you
- Consume more vegan-friendly meals to help the body’s immunity
- Get an air purifier that filters the room because of children, pregnant women, and elderly people.
Conclusion
The use of a face mask is always the surest way to reduce air pollution from getting to one. It may be hard to control many contributing factors but one can control the degree of inhaled pollutants with a good mask.
Health is wealth, stay safe.
