Ahmedabad: A 32-year-old man attending a wedding in Ahmedabad complained of shortness of breath and was rushed to a corporate hospital on SG Road last week.
“In general circumstances, it would not have affected the youth this much, but the period of smog due to western disturbance aggravated his flu infection to such a level that he was temporarily given oxygen to stabilize,” said Dr. Manoj Singh, a city-based pulmonologist and critical care specialist.
Emergency Cases (Source: EMRI 108)
Year Gujarat Ahmedabad
2018 62,036 17,778
2020 65,470 18,205
2022 74,780 20,140
2024 1,24,210 32,506
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For Ahmedabad and Gujarat at large, 2024 saw a rising number of people experiencing breathing problems.
EMRI 108 data indicated that Gujarat, for the first time, crossed 1 lakh cases of breathing problems at 1.24 lakh cases. The numbers doubled in six years from 62,036 recorded in 2018.
Of the total, 26% or more than one-fourth of cases were from Ahmedabad.
In Ahmedabad, the six-year rise was seen at 83% from 17,778 to 32,506. Thus, daily, Ahmedabad recorded 89 cases of breathing issues, whereas Gujarat recorded 340 cases.
Year-on-year, the rise was seen at 30% and 33% respectively.
Multiple factors responsible for people’s breathing troubles
Dr. Manoj Singh, a pulmonologist and critical care specialist, stated that the trend of increasing breathing problems has been developing over the past couple of years. He noted that in a city like Ahmedabad, upper respiratory tract infections and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are frequently seen in their out-patient departments (OPDs).
Singh further explained that the year 2024 witnessed multiple periods of mixed weather conditions. These fluctuations triggered allergic reactions in patients and also led to a surge in flu cases. He suggested that this could be a contributing factor to the observed spike in respiratory issues.
Citizens also reported experiencing longer bouts of breathing difficulties, prompting them to seek emergency assistance by dialing 108.
Dr. Tushar Patel, another pulmonologist, emphasized that various factors contribute to the growing number of people experiencing breathing problems. He highlighted that these factors range from bird droppings to changes in weather patterns. Patel stressed the importance of considering multiple causes when treating respiratory illnesses in urban areas. He also pointed out that pollution is a significant contributor, with the lungs of individuals living in areas with heavy traffic or industrial zones resembling those of smokers.
Dr. Rahul Jalan, a pulmonologist, clarified that not all instances of “shortness of breath” emergencies are directly linked to respiratory illnesses. He explained that such symptoms can also be indicative of other health conditions, including cardiovascular issues. Jalan emphasized the need for thorough investigations to identify the underlying cause in critical care patients. He acknowledged that the past year saw a high number of patients, some of whom exhibited scarring or injuries in their lungs due to pre-existing conditions. Jalan added that the majority of these patients were above 40 years of age.
