A patient walked into the hospital complaining of a persistent cough. Over the past few days, the cough has become more frequent; climbing a flight of stairs leaves him breathless and he has started experiencing a tightness in his chest. Initially, he dismisses these symptoms as a seasonal cough. But with air pollution levels soaring, the possibility of pollution-triggered respiratory and cardiovascular complications cannot be overlooked.

This is an increasingly important concern in Delhi-NCR, where residents are exposed to persistently poor air quality. Even a week of breathing heavily polluted air can have measurable effects on the body. While the severity varies depending on the concentration of pollutants, duration of exposure and an individual’s underlying health, the lungs and cardiovascular system are particularly vulnerable.

What a week of pollution exposure can do to the lungs

The lungs are the first major organs to bear the burden of inhaled pollutants.…