Delhi woke up under a thick, grey blanket of smog the day after Diwali, with air quality plummeting to the ‘very poor’ category. The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 399 at 4 pm on Tuesday, causing alarm across Delhi-NCR. Despite restrictions on firecrackers, pollution levels increased like anything, with 36 out of 38 monitoring stations reporting readings in the ‘red zone.’

While most residents notice coughing, wheezing, or eye irritation immediately, doctors are warning of hidden short-term symptoms and long-term lung damage caused due to constant exposure to smog.

Uncommon symptoms that signal danger

Dr. Ankit Kumar Sinha, Senior Consultant and Unit Head, Pulmonology at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali, says, “Apart from the usual cough, sore throat, and tight chest, we are

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