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Apollo cardiologist says pollution worsens health for children born with heart defects; suggests 5 ways to protect them
Lifestyle

Apollo cardiologist says pollution worsens health for children born with heart defects; suggests 5 ways to protect them

by jummy84
written by jummy84

The air quality is getting worse in Delhi-NCR, becoming a growing concern year after year. Toxic air is a major cause of many illnesses and affects more than just lung health. Recent reports show that it can also harm children with heart problems. Each year, as smog increases and air quality declines, children become more vulnerable to its effects. Their developing bodies may be at risk for heart defects. This concern worsens because air pollution can harm their health and make them more sensitive to harmful particles such as PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone.

Keep kids healthy this season: Practical tips to guard them against air pollution and its effects.(Adobe Stock)

What are the side effects of pollution for children with heart defects?

When pollution increases, more young patients have trouble breathing or recovering from illnesses. Children with heart defects, whether they were born with holes in their hearts or had surgeries to fix these issues, already face challenges, Dr Vikas Kohli, Pediatric Cardiologist, Founder of the Child Heart Foundation (CHF), tells Health Shots. Their hearts need to work harder. When air quality gets worse, it puts even more pressure on these fragile systems.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation. This thickens the blood and irritates blood vessels, potentially reducing oxygen flow. “Healthy children can adapt to these environmental stressors, but this is not true for kids with heart problems”, shares the pediatric cardiologist. For them, the stress from PM2.5 builds up slowly and can worsen their health over time.

What causes heart problems in children?

What can we do to help keep our kids safe from this danger? Here are five strategies that can really help.

1. Monitor air quality regularly

One important step parents can take is to stay informed about the air quality in their area. “Checking the Air Quality Index (AQI) is easy, as many apps and websites provide real-time updates”, shares the doctor. If the AQI enters the red zone, children with heart defects should stay indoors.

Pollution levels are highest in the morning and evening when traffic is heaviest. To protect your child, consider changing your family’s schedule during these times. You can delay outdoor play or adjust school drop-off times to help reduce their exposure to harmful pollutants.

2. Make your home a sanctuary

Many parents mistakenly think their homes are free of pollution. But indoor air pollution can be just as harmful. Daily activities like cooking, burning incense, or even dust from carpets can make the air unhealthy. To keep your home safe, follow cardiologist’s advice: “ensure it’s well-ventilated and close it off during periods of high outdoor pollution.”

Simple habits can improve your home’s air quality. Use exhaust fans when cooking, dust and vacuum regularly, and avoid burning materials indoors to keep your space clean. “Consider installing HEPA-filtered air purifiers, especially if you live in a polluted area”, shares the expert. Reports show that children who sleep in cleaner rooms wake up with better oxygen levels, leading to healthier mornings.

3. Emphasise regular check-ups

In a world where pollution harms health, regular check-ups are important. Many families do not realise how crucial these visits are during months with high pollution levels. Even small drops in oxygen levels can put extra strain on a child’s heart, often without showing apparent symptoms.

The expert recommends that “parents regularly check their child’s oxygen levels, blood pressure, and heart rhythm”. Many parents now use pulse oximeters at home to monitor oxygen levels. If the readings drop, it’s important to contact a healthcare provider quickly to prevent problems. Also, scheduling check-ups during the smog season can help doctors adjust treatment plans promptly. Remember, it’s easier to prevent issues than to recover from them.

4. Boost immunity to guard against infections

Lung health and heart function are closely connected, but this link is often ignored. Children with heart defects are at a greater risk for serious problems from respiratory infections, especially when the air quality is poor. “During periods of pollution, even a slight cough can develop into a severe chest infection, which may lead to hospitalisation”, shares the expert.

Choose warm water instead of cold drinks, eat balanced meals with plenty of vitamins, especially vitamin C, and make sure to get enough rest. These simple choices can help boost your child’s immune system and provide protection against common health challenges.

5. Advocate for cleaner communities

While people should take precautions, community efforts can improve air quality. Parents of children with heart conditions can play a key role in pushing for cleaner environments. “You can help by joining or starting neighbourhood campaigns to reduce pollution”, shares Dr Kohli. Consider initiatives like tree-planting, carpooling, and lobbying against harmful practices such as burning waste. These actions can make a big difference in your community.

Schools have an important role in helping children deal with air pollution. They can adjust schedules to keep kids indoors when the air quality is poor. Schools can also hold workshops to teach everyone about pollution and its health effects.

(Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.)

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Apollo Hospital cardiologist shares warning signs of sleep trouble that may harm heart health: ‘Loud snoring…'
Lifestyle

Apollo Hospital cardiologist shares warning signs of sleep trouble that may harm heart health: ‘Loud snoring…’

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Sleep is the cornerstone of good health, and cutting corners means compromising on your well-being extensively. While getting adequate sleep is an essential health habit, sometimes your rest still gets interrupted, irrespective of your efforts. These interruptions can hint at underlying conditions that require prompt medical attention.

If you are sleep is often disrupted, there may be underlying issues which require attention. (Picture credit: Shutterstock)

ALSO READ: Sleeping late every night? Study says poor sleep makes your brain age faster

To learn more about these red-flag sleep interruptions, HT Lifestyle reached out to Dr Rajesh Matta, consultant interventional cardiologist at Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai. He emphasised that if someone frequently experiences sleep disruptions, it should not be taken lightly. A proper evaluation should be scheduled, as he noted that sleep is closely tied to heart health, and any unresolved sleep problems may lead to serious cardiac issues in the long run.

Signs you need to pay attention to

Dr Matta revealed that sleep-related problems can show up in various ways: some occur during sleep, some appear immediately after waking up, and others affect your health more gradually over time.

As soon as you wake up, your own body gives clues that sleep wasn’t as restorative as it should have been. Dr Matta urged that everyone should pay attention to how they feel after waking up in the morning, as some signs of poor sleep may also indicate heart-related concerns.

“Pay attention to morning symptoms. If you’re waking up with headaches, feeling unrested despite adequate time in bed, or experiencing a racing heart or palpitations, these could be red flags,” The cardiologist explained. “Excessive daytime fatigue that interferes with daily activities isn’t normal; it often indicates poor sleep quality that’s stressing your cardiovascular system.”

While post-sleep signs are usually more subtle and sometimes may be confused with tiredness, there are some sleep problems which show up as major disturbances during the night. The cardiologist shared, “Loud snoring, gasping, or choking during sleep are warning signs of sleep apnea, which dramatically increases risk for hypertension, arrhythmias, and heart failure.”

The other warning signs include difficulty controlling blood pressure despite medication, unexplained weight gain, or increased anxiety and irritability, as per Dr Matta. These are more long-term in nature, in contrast to the immediate signs mentioned earlier. But they all affect metabolic and cardiovascular health, and the cardiologist warned against ignoring them.

How to improve sleep?

Follow these habits to improve your sleep quality. (Picture credit: Made with Chat GPT )
Follow these habits to improve your sleep quality. (Picture credit: Made with Chat GPT )

Dr Matta recommended these 4 habits, which help to improve your sleep quality. Try adding them to your daily routine:

1. Establish a fixed wake time: This is more important than a fixed bedtime because it anchors your circadian rhythm. Within a week or two, one will naturally start to feel sleepy at an appropriate time.

2. Sunlight exposure: Get morning sunlight exposure within 30 minutes of waking; it sets your internal clock and improves sleep quality that night.

3. Do physical activity: Incorporate 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days, but finish at least three hours before bedtime. Exercise is one of the most powerful sleep aids, and it directly benefits the heart.

4. Create wind-down routine: 15 minutes of light reading or gentle stretching.

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.

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Chrissy Chlapecka Releases 'Apollo' Video: Watch
Music

Chrissy Chlapecka Releases ‘Apollo’ Video: Watch

by jummy84
written by jummy84

Chrissy Chlapecka is stepping into her power again. On Friday, the Girlie Pop diva released her single “Apollo,” which she penned following a year of darkness and self-reconstruction. Now, the song is a radiant cyberpop anthem of queer resilience.

“I wrote Apollo about the darkness I had felt throughout this year, and how I longed to chase the light I once knew myself as,” Chlapecka tells Rolling Stone in a statement. “Battling a tough road of depression, the insanity of the music industry as an independent artist, trauma therapy from previous relationships, and the rollercoaster of life… had not only stopped me in my tracks, but it also allowed me to speak directly from my heart.”

She continues, “This song is about the return to oneself, knowing who you truly are on inside, even when darkness consumes you. This music video was made to represent how I had to completely build myself back together into the fierce diva I’ve always known that I am. By the end, I’m a chromatic superhero ready to leave the planet… to my next song.”

The Mikey Harmon-directed video opens with Chlapecka walking out of a plastic tube at a junkyard as if she landed as a cyborg princess from outer space, before transporting to a spaceship-like backdrop. “Know where you run, go where you go/Lead and I follow, follow/Into the sun, out of the cold,” sings Chlapecka in the chorus. “I chase Apollo-pollo/Hit me with your light in the dark/I’d die to be where you are/Into the hollow of every little piece of your heart.”

Chlapecka co-wrote the song with Dallas Caton, Alexandra Veltri, and Jesse Saint John. The singer’s delivery on the track and Alec Cohen’s choreography in the video have inspired fans to compare it to some of Lady Gaga’s early music, in particular, Gaga’s “Judas.”

“Today I learned that Lady Gaga had given birth to a pink-haired offspring,” commented one fan on YouTube. “This woman is literally Lady Gaga 2.0 and I’m here for it,” added another.

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The new single is set to be a part of an upcoming EP, Christine, her follow-up to last year’s Girlie Pop. So far, she’s released singles “Passionfruit,” “Clam Casino,” and “Cherry Do You Love Me” — all as an independent artist. The new project drops Nov. 21.

“The EP recognizes the hurt I have dealt with and gracefully sits with it for a moment, letting it be true and raw. On the other hand, it opens a world to imagination: the girl I was as a child, dancing and singing in my bedroom, pretending it was a stage… The girl who was brave enough to follow her dreams. All of who I am comes from her,” she says. “She is why I was strong enough to pick myself up again, dream as big as I could, and let the world back in.”

Chalpecka first made a splash with her debut single “I’m So Hot,” and led a movement to reclaim the term “bimbo” to be one of self-empowerment on social media. She has been open about her queer identity and has built a fierce fanbase that connects with her authenticity.

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“We need queer artists to be as loud, as colorful, and as fierce as possible,” Chlapecka says. “For all the queer kids who feel small right now, I hope to make you see yourself as you are. Brave, fierce, strong, and as shiny as possible. When you fall down, you can only get up stronger.”

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