Delhi faces dual threat of air pollution and heat; worst AQI in 83 days

In the coming days, there is a risk of deteriorating air quality in many regions of the country, including Delhi and NCR. Under such conditions, the population often complains of coughs, throat irritation, and difficulty breathing. In some cases, the cough becomes very severe and worsens during sleep at night. Specialists explain the reasons for this condition and offer advice on prevention.

Dr. Vivek Nangia, head of the pulmonology department at Max Hospital in Saket, told Aajtak.in that the problem of coughing significantly worsens during pollution. This happens because fine pollutant particles present in the air enter the body along with inhaled air and reach the lungs. This leads to inflammation and pain in the respiratory tract. The body reacts to these pollutants by trying to expel them, which causes coughing; however, if there is a large number of particles, the cough persists.

According to Dr. Vivek, the cough intensifies at night during sleep. When lying down, mucus from the nose and throat can drip backward, triggering a cough. Furthermore, some people suffer from acid reflux during sleep, when acid rises into the esophagus, causing coughing. Thus, the cause of nighttime coughing is not only pollution but also a possible exacerbation of previously existing respiratory problems due to poor air quality.

People suffering from asthma, allergies, COPD, or having other respiratory diseases should be extra vigilant during pollution. Children and the elderly should also exercise special caution when the air quality is poor. If the cough in these groups lasts for a long time, it can be dangerous. They need to take special precautions during changing seasons, not neglect treatment when symptoms appear, and strictly adhere to the prescribed medication schedule.

During periods of high pollution levels, it is recommended to reduce outdoor activities. It is also important to minimize dust and smoke inside the home. If you need to go outside, you should wear a mask. Finally, it is necessary to take all prescribed medications on time.

The climate in the Delhi-NCR region has been undergoing sudden changes over the last two to three days. Due to rain and cool winds, temperatures have dropped, making the weather pleasant. However, this altered climate is not long-term.

According to the current situation, the period of rain and cold in Delhi-NCR is likely to last only until tomorrow. After that, temperatures may rise again, meaning that the current coolness cannot be considered the start of a stable winter. The weather may change again in the coming days.

The cause of this sharp weather change is attributed to the influence of a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal. This system shifted towards Uttar Pradesh. Its impact caused weather changes in Delhi-NCR and other plains areas over the last two to three days. Additionally, rainfall and snowfall in the mountainous regions, where a Western Disturbance was active, influenced the weather in the plains areas.

Although there is no new Western Disturbance in the near future, the weather in the mountainous regions may gradually change, which will subsequently affect the climate of the plains areas. Regarding the monsoon situation, monsoon processes are still active in some parts of the country, so it continues to rain in different places. Nevertheless, the monsoon has moved out of Rajasthan and Delhi-NCR.

At the same time, the process of monsoon withdrawal is continuing in several other states of the country, indicating that the monsoon has not left the entire country simultaneously. The situation varies across different areas, and rain continues in some places. For residents of Delhi-NCR, it is most important to understand that the coolness of the past few days should not be considered a permanent change in weather. Although the temperature has indeed dropped due to the rains, it may rise again in the coming days.