Smog Season: Tips to Protect Lungs and When to Seek Medical Help

At this time, we can all sense that smog season is not just a headline, but it is a lived reality. With AQI levels swinging between very poor and severe, protecting your lungs has become as essential as carrying your phone. We talk about collaboration to improve air quality, but in reality, we just casually Google ‘best air purifier.

Till then, your air purifier is on the way. Here’s a take on how to navigate this toxic season, with practical and fact-backed advice.

If you step out and notice the haze that blurs the skyline, pricks your eyes, activates synus and cough, then it is high time for prevention because this can lead to long-term health damage.

Doctors across the Delhi NCR region are warning that PM2.5 particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing inflammation in the airways and potentially worsening conditions such as arthritis.

Tips to protect your lungs – Every day Moves

Think of these as your daily survival routine till the smog season disappears, which seems hard now-

Mask up Smartly – Only N95/KN95 masks filter out 95% fine particulates, including PM2.5. It does not solve the AQI crisis, but they do protect your lungs when collective solutions are still lagging. It is hard to wear a mask all the time, so wear it during a commute, crowded places and when AQI is above 200.

Eat for resilience – Antioxidant-rich foods, such as spinach, turmeric, and citrus, help your body fight oxidative stress. As pollution fills the air with harmful particles that create free radicals in the body, antioxidants act as a shield to neutralise them and support overall health.

Hydrate Constantly – This may be an overrated tip, but useful. Water flushes toxins out and keeps the mucous membrane moist, reducing irritation.

Skip Outdoor Workouts – Places like Delhi, running in smog is like inhaling poison fast. Try to opt for indoor exercise in this season.

When to Seek Medical Help?

We are in the middle of the smog, and no matter how much we protect ourselves from pollution, it will affect us anyway, and if you feel or notice such symptoms, then you must seek medical attention

• Constantly shortness of breath or wheezing
• Chest pain or uneasiness
• Asthma attacks that do not respond to inhalers
• Unusual fatigue, palpitations

Children, pregnant women, and those with chronic respiratory conditions should consult with a doctor even for mild symptoms.

Research defines that prolonged exposure can alter the body chemistry, affecting not just the lungs but also the heart, kidneys, and even fertility. In short, smog season is rewriting the health script for millions.

Conclusion

Maybe we are not realising that smog season is not just a seasonal inconvenience, but it is a public health emergency. Protecting your lungs means adapting smart daily habits with caution for warning signs.

Air pollution has now become a massive disease burden in the country. What more can you do? Aware of real-time public advisories, hospital readiness, and city-level action protocols during severe AQI. Every breath counts, and in toxic air, every possible precaution matters.