With changing times, the poison dissolved in the air is no longer limited to only our lungs and heart, but has also started taking over the most sensitive organ of our body i.e. the brain. As the winter season approaches, the Air Quality Index (AQI) level starts deteriorating in most cities of the country. Generally, people believe that when the air becomes too poisonous, it harms health, but many shocking scientific researches that have come out recently have proved that as soon as the AQI level crosses the 50 mark, it starts having negative effects on our brain. The fine particles of pollution reach the brain directly through our respiratory system by mixing in the bloodstream and gradually weaken our powers of thinking, understanding and remembering. Micro particles present in the air and neurological dangers When we breathe polluted air, the ultra fine particles like PM 2.5 and PM 10 present in the air are so dangerous that they penetrate the filtering system of the nose and lungs and dissolve in the blood. When these toxic elements reach the brain through blood circulation, they cause chronic inflammation there. Due to this inflammation, the communication between neurons becomes weak, which affects the functioning of the brain. Scientific studies have shown that even mildly polluted air, which was considered normal or satisfactory, can lead to neurological disorders if inhaled over a long period of time. Brain cells start aging prematurely and their mutual connections start breaking, due to which we see serious consequences in the form of mental fatigue. There is a direct impact on decision making ability and memory. As soon as AQI goes above 50, the first mental strength that gets affected is our decision making power and focus. Be it people working in offices or students studying, they find it difficult to concentrate on any work if they are in polluted air. Apart from this, short-term memory i.e. the ability to remember recent things also starts decreasing rapidly. You must have often felt that on days with extreme pollution, you feel extreme mental fatigue and lethargy even without any physical effort, the main reason behind which is the poisonous air reaching the brain. The brain needs plenty of pure oxygen to function properly, but pollution hinders the supply of that oxygen. Serious problems of mental health, stress and mood swings Pollution is directly related not only to our intellectual ability but also to our emotional and mental health. When toxic particles affect the part of the brain that controls our mood and emotions, symptoms of sudden irritability, extreme stress, anxiety and depression start emerging in the person. The risk of mental disorders increases manifold in people exposed to bad air for a long time. The quality of sleep starts getting affected in everyone from youth to the elderly, due to which they feel mentally tired. It is an invisible threat that is silently hollowing out our mental energy from within like termites inside our body, and people ignore it as just common fatigue. There is a strong need to adopt preventive measures and a healthy lifestyle. Since it is not possible to avoid pollution overnight in most parts of the country, we have to protect our brain and health by taking some precautionary measures. Whenever the AQI level is recorded above 50 or in the poor category, morning walks or heavy exercise outside should be avoided. Using air purifiers and planting indoor plants inside your homes and offices can improve the air quality to a great extent. Additionally, consuming a diet rich in antioxidants, green vegetables and plenty of water helps flush out toxins from the body and mind. If seriousness is not shown towards this invisible threat in time, then in the future it can cause huge damage to our intellectual capacity.
