Diwali is a festival of lights. It is one of the most awaited festivals in India. But now it has turned out to be a huge source of air pollution and noise pollution. And it has become a huge problem for patients suffering from Bronchial Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Cardiac disorders, etc.

Some advice for leading a healthy as well as safe Diwali are as follows-

·         One of the most common health issues that we see during Diwali is burn injuries. This should be prevented by wearing pure cotton clothes as synthetic fabrics catch fire easily. Closed shoes should be worn to avoid any burn injuries to feet. Wearing dupattas or any trailing piece of cloth to be avoided while lighting firecrackers.

·         Lighting candles or diyas during Diwali can prevent a lot of air pollution. Or people may use colorful LED lights available in markets. Air pollution can lead to irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin leading to watering of the eyes, sneezing, and dry cough. It is advisable to stock up on medications like nasal spray and anti-allergics. It may also aggravate symptoms of bronchial asthma or COPD causing respiratory distress and may end up in hospital. Patients may use face masks.

· The bursting of green crackers is better than normal crackers as it causes less pollution and also should produce a sound less than 125 dB. More sound-producing crackers can cause hearing loss, headache, anxiety, worsening of hypertension or cardiac diseases, etc.

·         It is better to stay indoors, especially during the evening hours for patients suffering from Bronchial Asthma, COPD, or cardiac disorders as inhaling the gases emitted from fire crackers can aggravate the symptoms. Patients should also keep all the required medications such as inhalers available with them.

·         It is also advisable to avoid doing exercises outdoor during this period of time as pollution levels will be higher.

·         It is also recommended to limit outdoor activities of children during this time. If children are bursting green crackers then they must do it under proper supervision of adults to avoid burn injuries.

·         Everyone should aim to keep themselves properly hydrated. Patients suffering from dyslipidemia or ischemic heart disease should avoid fried items and ghee products. Patients suffering from diabetes mellitus must avoid sweets which we exchange during Diwali. People should have a balanced diet rich with green leafy vegetables, lean proteins, and fruits. If people are suffering from indigestion then can take antacids or proton pump inhibitors (PPI) after consulting a doctor.

About the author- Dr. Projoy Kr. Mukherjee, Consultant Physician, Techno India Group Dama Hospital