Asthma and COPD: Daily air pollution hurts women more, pulmonologist warns

Health risks of air pollution: A 2024 study found that prolonged exposure to polluted air can hamper lung function by up to 17 percent. These effects begin early, often in childhood, and may later cause lifelong respiratory problems (Image: Pexels)

From Delhi to Mumbai, or to any other city in India, breathing clean air is a privilege most people haven't experienced for years now. Our cities have become gas chambers, specially after Diwali, and we don't see any escape from the metallic taste of the air we breathe in.

For many women, this invisible haze is more than an inconvenience — it’s a daily assault on their lungs. Doctors are seeing a disturbing trend: A surge in asthma and early-stage COPD among women who have never smoked a cigarette, but who have breathed polluted air for years.

When clean air becomes a privilege

The assumption that lung disease strikes only smokers or the elderly no longer holds true. Today, non-smoking women, homemakers and professionals alike, are suffering chronic coughs, breathlessness, and inflamed airways.

Also read | Asthma attack during air pollution: Diet, air purifiers, lifestyle tips to avoid breathing problems

Women are facing a double burden. Dr Swapnil Mehta, Senior Consultant of Pulmonology, Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, tells Moneycontrol. “Rural women inhale toxic smoke from wood and dung used for cooking, while urban women battle the constant exposure to vehicular and industrial emissions. Both are equally harmful.”

A 2024 study found that prolonged exposure to polluted air can hamper lung function by up to 17 percent. These effects begin early, often in childhood, and may later cause lifelong respiratory problems.

Says Dr Mehta, “Every breath of dirty air inflames the lungs. Over time, this chronic irritation damages the airways, triggering asthma and paving the way for COPD. What’s worrying is that many women ignore early symptoms, mistaking them for seasonal allergies or fatigue.”

Health risks of air pollution

Dr Mehta shares the risk factors for women:

Environmental exposure: Household smoke, especially from cooking with firewood or cow dung, equals smoking several cigarettes a day.

Urban pollution: Constant exposure to vehicle exhaust, construction dust, and second-hand smoke adds a daily toxic load.

Biological susceptibility: Women’s lungs may react more strongly to pollutants, leading to faster decline in lung function.

Healthcare gaps: “Many women delay seeking help. Symptoms like breathlessness are often brushed off as stress or ageing. This leads to delayed diagnosis, which can make COPD irreversible,” explains Dr Mehta.

Also read | Air pollution and risk of asthma, bronchitis and COPD, here's how to prevent respiratory diseases

Prevention is the only cure:

Dr Mehta insists that tackling this issue needs layered action, from policy to personal responsibility.

At the policy level: “We must accelerate clean fuel initiatives, especially in rural India, and tighten air quality regulations in cities,” he urges.

At the community level: Spreading awareness about indoor ventilation and discouraging second-hand smoke can protect families.

At the personal  level:

• Use air purifiers indoors, particularly in urban settings.
• Wear N95 or FFP2 masks on high-pollution days.
• Seek medical help for persistent cough or breathlessness.
• Regular lung tests, like spirometry, can detect early damage.