How Air Quality Affects Your Breathing: What Every Indian Household Should Know

Air pollution in India is not just an environmental crisis—it’s a public health emergency. Every year, millions suffer from breathing difficulties, chronic respiratory issues, and aggravated health conditions due to poor air quality. According to the WHO and Indian health bodies, air pollution contributes significantly to diseases like asthma, bronchitis, COPD, and even lung cancer.

But what does that mean for you and your family—especially if someone is already using a nebulizer, CPAP machine, or oxygen concentrator?

At Respikart.com, we believe that better understanding leads to better breathing. Let’s break down how air quality directly affects your lungs and how the right medical support can make all the difference.

🌫️ What Is Air Quality & Why It Matters

Air quality refers to the cleanliness of the air around you, and it’s usually measured using the Air Quality Index (AQI). Anything above 200 AQI can start causing breathing problems, especially in sensitive groups like children, seniors, and people with existing lung conditions.

In India, cities like Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Kolkata often record AQI levels above 300 during winters, festivals (like Diwali), and harvest burning seasons.

☠️ What Polluted Air Contains

When we breathe in polluted air, we’re inhaling:

• Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) – tiny particles that penetrate deep into the lungs
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) – from car emissions and factory smoke
• Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂) – from burning coal and industrial waste
• Carbon Monoxide (CO) – from vehicle exhausts
• Ozone (O₃) – causes throat and lung irritation when inhaled

🫁 Effects of Poor Air Quality on Breathing

1. Triggers for Asthma and COPD

If you’re using a nebulizer or inhaler, chances are your lungs are already sensitive. High pollution levels:

• Cause more frequent asthma attacks
• Lead to wheezing and tightness in the chest
• Make it harder to breathe during physical activity

Many patients see a spike in symptoms between October and January due to seasonal smog in North India.

2. Decreased Oxygen Levels

High pollution can reduce the oxygen-carrying capacity of the air. This especially affects those using:

• Oxygen concentrators at home for COPD or hypoxemia
• BiPAP or CPAP machines for sleep apnea or chronic respiratory failure

When your lungs are exposed to pollution daily, it becomes harder to maintain healthy oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels. A reliable oxygen concentrator helps you maintain those levels safely at home.

3. More Mucus, More Coughing

Pollution irritates your airways, which causes increased mucus production. This leads to:

• Constant coughing
• Difficulty sleeping
• The need for more frequent nebulization sessions

Using a nebulizer like those available on RespiKart.com can help loosen mucus, reduce inflammation, and improve airflow.

4. Children and Seniors at Greater Risk

Children under 10 and adults over 60 are most vulnerable. Their lungs are either still developing or already weakened by age or other health issues.

For them, even moderately polluted air can cause:

• Shortness of breath
• Recurring chest infections
• Long-term lung damage

Early use of supportive devices like home nebulizers or oxygen therapy can prevent complications.

🏥 What You Can Do To Stay Safe

✔️ Use the Right Respiratory Devices

If you or a family member has been prescribed oxygen or breathing support, make sure you are using reliable and certified equipment. RespiKart offers:

• Oxygen Concentrators for long-term oxygen therapy
• CPAP and BiPAP Machines for managing sleep apnea and other conditions
• Portable Nebulizers for on-the-go relief
• Masks, tubing, humidifiers, and other respiratory accessories

All devices are medically approved, easy to use

✔️ Maintain and Sanitize Your Equipment

Pollution means more dust and airborne bacteria—so it’s important to keep your medical devices clean:

• Replace nebulizer masks and tubing regularly
• Wipe down concentrator filters as per manual
• Clean CPAP masks and humidifier chambers every 1–2 days

RespiKart also supplies spare parts and maintenance kits to help you extend your device’s life.

✔️ Support Your Lungs Naturally

While equipment helps manage symptoms, your daily habits also matter:

• Drink plenty of water to thin mucus
• Eat antioxidant-rich foods like turmeric, amla, and ginger
• Practice gentle breathing exercises like pranayama

🛒 Breathing Support Delivered to Your Door

At Respikart.com, we understand the challenges of managing respiratory conditions in today’s environment. That’s why we offer a curated selection of medical-grade respiratory devices, trusted by doctors and patients across India.

Whether you’re looking for:

• An affordable oxygen concentrator
• A quiet, travel-friendly nebulizer
• A reliable CPAP machine with humidification
• Or just a replacement mask or tubing—

We’re here to help you breathe better.