UM Surabaya Lecturer: These are 7 Diseases Due to Unhealthy Air

• 15 Aug
• 2023

Foto kompas (Sumber: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

UM Surabaya Lecturer: These are 7 Diseases Due to Unhealthy Air

• Article
• By Uswah Sahal
• Health
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Air pollution has become a world problem. Data states that air pollution is responsible for 4.2 million deaths each year. The reason is that as many as 9 out of 10 people in the world breathe polluted air every day, and the population of Indonesia is no exception.

What's more, facts from the World Health Organization (WHO) record that approximately 92% of the world's population breathes air with poor quality, which causes 7 million deaths every year (2 million in Southeast Asia) due to outdoor and indoor air pollution. What are the diseases caused by air pollution.

UM Surabaya Faculty of Health Sciences (FIK) lecturer Dede Nasrullah distributed 7 diseases caused by unhealthy air.

First, Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (ARI), Dede said, respiratory infections are not only caused by bacterial or virus infections in the body, but also due to air pollution.

"Toxic materials such as carbon monoxide, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide are examples of air pollution compositions that can easily irritate the respiratory organs," said Dede Tuesday (15/8/23)

The second is lung cancer. In lung cancer, lung cells become abnormal so they grow out of control. Some of the symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing up blood, and weight loss for no apparent reason. According to WHO, apart from infection, particles in air pollution can contribute to causing lung cancer.

Thirdly, asthma, asthma is a type of long-term or chronic disease of the respiratory tract which is characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways which causes tightness or difficulty breathing. This narrowing of the airways produces asthma symptoms such as: shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness.

Fourth, COPD or what is known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, exposure to outdoor and indoor pollution can interfere with lung performance and increase the risk of COPD. The symptoms themselves are almost the same as bronchitis, but can be prolonged.

Fifth, heart disease and stroke, the impact of air pollution can cause blood vessels to become stiff and narrow. This condition triggers stroke and heart disease because blood flow to the brain or other organs becomes blocked, especially when followed by an unhealthy lifestyle.

The six wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing can be symptoms caused by exposure to air pollution, both in the short and long term.

Seventh, developmental process disorders, in children air pollution can slow down and interfere with the process of lung development and can reduce their lung function as adults.

“We have to start to be more aware of the air pollution around us. Use a mask when doing activities outside the home and also apply a healthy lifestyle every day so that immunity is maintained," concluded Dede.