Fine dust can penetrate the alveoli and capillaries, penetrating deep into the body’s circulatory system, causing damage to the respiratory system, cardiovascular damage, and stroke.
Hanoi City is polluted with fine dust PM 2.5 (diameter 2.5 microns or less) and PM 10 dust (less than 10 microns), the air is at a very bad level.
Dr. Le Hoan, Head of the Department of Endocrinology – Respiratory Medicine, Hanoi Medical University Hospital, said that fine dust is a term that describes particles suspended in the air, with a diameter of less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers ( µm). Because it is so small, PM2.5 dust particles cannot be seen with the naked eye. As the concentration of fine dust increases, the air becomes hazy and visibility is reduced to a fog-like appearance.
Experts point out the health risks if people breathe fine dust for a long time:
Heart-related diseaes
Research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK) shows that exposure to fine dust increases the risk of abnormal heart rhythms and blood clots in the lungs, especially in the elderly.
Other work from Central South University (Hunan, China) also shows that air pollution increases the risk of high blood pressure in children. Accordingly, children who are regularly exposed to fine dust will increase their systolic and diastolic blood pressure, thereby leading to high blood pressure.
Stroke
Doctor Tran Dinh Thang, Emergency Department, Central Geriatric Hospital, described dust entering the body through the respiratory tract through membranes and capillary alveoli. Fine dust damages brain and cardiovascular cells, attacks the alveoli, crosses the air-blood barrier to enter the circulatory system and causes illness, affects the nervous system, increases the risk of stroke, and affects the brain. set. The danger is that people inhale fine dust but cannot feel it.
Associate Professor Vu Van Giap, Deputy Director of Bach Mai Hospital, led a study in the UK showing that air pollution can cause heart failure, increase strokes or asthma in both children and adults. During days when pollution levels increase, on average there are about 124 more hospitalizations for cardiac arrest and 193 cases of asthma. Patients suffer from stagnant blood circulation due to heart systolic disorders – one of the causes of stroke. Research also shows that air pollution kills 36,000 British people every year.
Respiratory disease
Doctor Le Hoan believes that the respiratory system is most severely affected, in addition to the skin, eyes… When entering the body, fine dust will penetrate the airways, causing damage to the lining of the trachea and bronchi. They also go deep into the alveoli, the end of the gas exchange organ, causing inflammation and fibrosis of the alveoli, leading to many respiratory diseases. If exposed for a long time, the disease becomes complicated, causing chronic lung diseases.
When exposed to PM10 and PM2.5, people with sinus and rhinitis are at risk of worsening. Rhinosinusitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa and facial sinus system, causing the nasal mucosa to become congested, edematous, and the sinus openings become clogged and no longer have the function of draining and transporting mucus. The disease often shows symptoms of sneezing, itchy nose, stuffy nose, pain, discharge, deafness in the nose, pain in the forehead or eye socket, and earache.
Rhinosinusitis often does not go away on its own, will develop into chronic rhinosinusitis or cause complications of the eyes, nerves, even kidneys and joints.
WHO identifies air pollution as a “silent killer”. An estimated 30% of lung cancer deaths are related to air pollution. Particularly for respiratory diseases, more patients will be affected. About 43% of deaths from respiratory diseases are related to air pollution.
To prevent disease, doctors recommend that people pay attention to clean eating and daily hygiene of the nose and throat. Wear a mask when going out to limit the risk of infection. Limit traffic when roads are crowded or go into polluted areas such as industrial parks.
Increase exercise to improve health and improve resistance. Supplement vitamins and minerals from green vegetables, fruits, juices… to enhance immunity. Air purifiers can be used at home.
Localities need to strengthen control of waste sources and shield construction works to prevent dust from spreading into the environment. People do not burn straw and garbage, and discharge waste outside, causing more serious pollution.
