The demand for oxygen in the National Capital Region and surrounding North Indian states brings up an important question - is respiratory distress worsened due to air pollution? I hope researchers are studying this because, if true, this could be a potential trigger to ramp up the need to tackle air pollution now rather than kicking the can down the road.
I have a feeling air pollution is not that important politically because people haven't felt adverse health effects in the short term.
Good point. Last year when the north of Italy was particularly affected it was during a huge air pollution episode. At the time I had heard particulate pollution helps the virus circulate, but maybe it also worsen the symptoms.
I have a feeling everyone in the districts lands up in Indian cities during such events cause the district/block level health care facilities in India are a crap shoot.
According to the sustainability dev goals India has 10 docs per 10k ppl. 30 per 10k if you include nurses and other support staff.
What can anyone do with such numbers when the tsunami hits other than say send the patient to the nearest city with the most resources.
> I have a feeling everyone in the districts lands up in Indian cities during such events cause the district/block level health care facilities in India are a crap shoot.
While this is true, the opposite is also happening, where people from Mumbai/Pune are being admitted to hospitals in smaller cities where beds might be available. Patients from Mumbai, Pune, Goa, and other neighbouring districts have been reported in my district.
I have the same thing. I consider my asthma very mild now, it hasn't really bothered me at home since I was 16 or so. Except when I travel to India (which I did a lot for work until COVID hit) - every time I need to use an inhaler every day.
The polluted air in Delhi, parts of Mumbai (e.g. Navi Mumbai), Pune and others is just horrible. Especially at night when the temperature drops a bit, it's like it hangs in the air like a toxic cloud from a Marvel comic - the air almost seems semi-solid.
I have a feeling air pollution is not that important politically because people haven't felt adverse health effects in the short term.