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Every winter, most parts of India are shrouded in thick smog, and people start a failed battle against terrible levels of pollution.
Thousands of people were breathlessly admitted to the doctor's clinic, filling their beds with lung problems, and many were forced to leave school or work.
With no impact on the measures announced by the federal and state governments to control pollution, many people are looking for their own ways to deal with it.
Here are some of the most popular ways Indians are trying to beat pollution
But do they really work?
Quickly search for air purifiers on Amazon, India, with more than 2,000 results. after a rough look, you will find that they are not cheap.
But in the past few years, many Indians have begun to invest in indoor air purifiers because they believe it will help improve air quality.
A report said the government purchased a total of 140 purifiers to ensure that officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were able to breathe easily.
But do they work?
"Air purifiers only work in a fully sealed environment," said Dr. Karan Madan, associate professor of lung medicine at Delhi All India Institute of Medicine Hospital.
So every time you open a door or window in your home, "indoor air quality immediately imitates outdoor air quality "--
To put it simply, if the level of outdoor pollution is high, indoor pollution will immediately become high.
Then the question is: can you sit in a fully closed room all the time?
"This is not practical," said Dr. Madan . ".
Online retailers in India have thousands of masks to choose from.
You can also buy it at a nearby chemist.
Some are simple cloth masks while others are high
Grading filter to prevent toxins.
They are black or they can be morecoloured.
Thousands of people wear them in the most polluted capital.
But can a mask protect you from the deadly tiny particles that go deep into your lungs and cause damage to your health?
A mask that can filter out these tiny microns can help, Dr. Madan said, but they must be worn all the time and completely sealed around the nose and mouth.
"But these high-filtration masks can make breathing difficult, especially when exercising.
How are you going to get the kids to wear it when they go out to play?
"These are solutions that are very difficult to use," he added . ".
Last week, schools in Delhi began to take preventive measures as air quality in Delhi began to deteriorate.
The morning rally was suspended, outdoor activities were restricted, and a school began distributing gooseberries to students.
This is because the traditional Indian wisdom believes that sour green fruits contain-
Antioxidants help to improve immunity and reduce the impact of pollution.
Nutritionists also recommend drinking a mixture made of ginger, ginger and Indian basil, or eating jaggery or clarifying butter.
Dr. Madan said he is not sure to what extent these claims are supported by scientific data and there is no evidence that they are valid.
He says any vitamin and-
Antioxidants are good for overall health, but it does not prevent exposure to pollution.
Dr. Madan said that in the past week, he has seen the number of patients with "asthma"
"Has gone up like symptoms, and many people complain" burning-
The nose and throat feel itchy ".
It is a "serious health emergency," he said, and children, elderly people and asthma patients are more vulnerable to bad air and he advised them to "avoid outdoor activities and strenuous exercise ".
The adverse effects of pollution on the lungs and heart have been identified, but new studies have also pointed out its effects on our cognitive abilities --
A recent study found that pollution can also lead to a decline in intelligence.
Trees are known to help absorb pollution, but Indian newspapers and websites are increasingly talking about indoor plants that can absorb toxins from the interior.
Among the top air purification plants are aloe, spider, Lily and Snake (
Also known as Motherin-Law's Tongue).
Dr. Madan said that their claims that they have an impact on air quality need to be supported by evidence.
"Someone asked for a study of pollution in homes with or without these plants.
We need very high quality data to see if this intervention works.
"But Dr. Madan is clear that the situation is so bad that there is actually only one course of action --
This is to solve the pollution itself.
"There is no shortcut.
Most importantly, we must control the pollution sources.