Doctors warn of a growing airway disease pandemic, call it a lung health emergency

Doctors have raised alarms over a silent health crisis in India, where air pollution is causing a growing number of undiagnosed lung and heart problems. Experts say urgent action, early detection, and long-term clean air policies are needed to prevent lasting damage to citizens and the healthcare system.

A UK-based Indian-origin pulmonologist warned that air pollution is arguably India’s biggest public health threat since the pandemic. He highlighted that a large, hidden burden of airway disease is building beneath the surface, and many people remain unaware that they are at risk.

Multiple senior doctors practicing in the UK pointed out that the rise in cardiovascular diseases worldwide is strongly linked to air pollution from vehicles, airplanes, and other urban sources, rather than obesity alone. They stressed that millions in North India have already suffered irreversible damage due to long-term exposure to toxic air.

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari recently admitted that nearly 40% of Delhi’s pollution comes from the transport sector, which relies heavily on fossil fuels. He emphasised the urgent need for cleaner alternatives and promoted the use of biofuels.

Despite rising health concerns, the government told Parliament that no conclusive data directly links higher Air Quality Index (AQI) levels to lung diseases, even though air pollution is acknowledged as a factor triggering respiratory and related illnesses.

Manish Gautam, a consultant pulmonologist in Liverpool and former member of India’s Covid-19 advisory committee, told PTI that the problem has reached alarming levels. He said years of exposure to polluted air have created a “lung health emergency” and called for early detection, rapid treatment, and the establishment of a “lung health task group” to tackle the crisis.

Hospitals in Delhi reported a 20–30% increase in respiratory patients in December alone, including many first-time cases and younger adults. Gautam stressed that while pollution control remains essential, preventive measures are no longer enough. He compared the required urgency to India’s previous large-scale health interventions, such as tuberculosis screening and treatment, which successfully reduced the disease’s impact.

Hidden health risks from pollution

Cardiologist Rajay Narain from St George’s University Hospital in London highlighted the overwhelming scientific evidence linking air pollution to a wide range of diseases, including cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, and systemic disorders. He warned that delaying action would increase both health and economic burdens.

Narain explained that many early symptoms of pollution-related illness—headaches, fatigue, mild cough, throat irritation, digestive discomfort, eye dryness, skin rashes, and recurrent infections—are often ignored. These minor complaints may actually be early warnings of serious chronic conditions.

Professor Derek Connolly, a cardiologist at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Birmingham, pointed out that even on days when air seems clean, residents in polluted cities are still exposed to invisible cardiovascular risks. He called cardiovascular disease a “silent killer,” noting that it progresses slowly but can worsen suddenly. Many people do not realise they are being affected because particulate matter in the air cannot be measured like blood pressure or cholesterol.

Air pollution, especially PM2.5 particles, caused over 17 lakh deaths in India in 2022. Road transport alone contributed to 2.69 lakh of these deaths, according to the 2025 Report of The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change.

Global studies have also shown that policies targeting emissions from vehicles can save millions of lives and prevent new asthma cases in children. The International Council on Clean Transportation reported in May 2025 that reducing road transport emissions could prevent 1.9 million deaths and 1.4 million new cases of asthma worldwide by 2040.

Healthcare professionals have repeatedly raised concerns about the health risks posed by air pollution. They urge the government to act on multiple fronts: reduce emissions, improve air quality, monitor lung and heart health, and educate the public about early warning signs. Without immediate intervention, millions of people are at risk of chronic disease, and the burden on India’s healthcare system will grow steadily.

In short, experts warn that air pollution is triggering a hidden epidemic of lung and heart disease in India. Early detection, better treatment, and strong clean air policies are essential to prevent this silent crisis from escalating further.