Thaindian News

New Delhi, Oct 25 (IANS) For asthma patients, the heavy smoke from firecrackers on Diwali can cause agony. Observing a few precautions, including wearing a mask or covering the nose with a wet cloth, can help tide over the situation, doctors say.

Also keep your inhaler handy, advise doctors.

“It is difficult to avoid venturing out on Diwali day, but asthmatics should be well-prepared with inhalers, and they should strictly take their prescribed medicine. When they go out, they should either wear a mask or should cover their nose with a wet handkerchief, as it is a better shield against dust and smoke,” said Puneet Khanna, consultant respiratory medicine, Asthma and Allergy clinic.

Some suggestions by doctors are — Avoid eating oily items, dry fruits and in case a person is a smoker they should cut down intake of cigarettes as all these can aggravate asthma. Take your prescribed dose of inhalers regularly and quick relief inhalers for emergencies.

?I don’t step out of the house on Diwali day as I’m scared of the smoke created by firecrackers. Many like me cope with great difficulty,” says Prakash, a marketing professional in Pune.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), India has an estimated 15-20 million asthma patients.

“Firecrackers like the conical anar, chakri and rocket include highly toxic heavy metals like copper, cadmium, lead, manganese, zinc, sodium and potassium. They can cause severe headache, respiratory diseases, apart from chronic cough. Asthmatic and other breathing disorder patients must take precautions,” V.K. Dhawan, president, Indian Homeopathic Medical Association (IHMA) said.