LAHORE: The ongoing smog in Punjab has significantly impacted the health of sensitive individuals, with nearly 1.93 million people seeking medical attention for respiratory and related illnesses in the past 30 days, according to the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department.
Over the last month, hospitals across the province reported a sharp rise in health issues caused by the toxic air, including 124,660 cases of asthma, 62,908 instances of ischemic heart disease, 5,953 stroke patients, and 12,694 cases of conjunctivitis. In the last week alone, 452,567 people visited healthcare facilities for respiratory problems, 31,707 for asthma, 13,768 for ischemic heart disease, 1,695 for strokes, and 47,224 for eye infections.
The situation continues to worsen, with hospitals reporting 53,377 new cases of respiratory diseases, 3,509 asthma cases, 883 ischemic heart disease patients, 104 strokes, and 656 conjunctivitis cases in the last 24 hours.
Lahore, the city most affected by the smog, recorded 132,558 respiratory disease cases, 5,954 asthma patients, 14,869 ischemic heart disease cases, 583 strokes, and 2,395 cases of conjunctivitis over the past month. In the past week, the city alone witnessed 34,168 respiratory disease cases, 2,321 asthma cases, 1,835 ischemic heart disease incidents, 331 strokes, and 1,602 conjunctivitis cases. The past 24 hours alone saw 4,108 respiratory disease patients, 393 asthma cases, 129 ischemic heart disease cases, 47 strokes, and 293 conjunctivitis cases in Lahore.
To address the growing health concerns, the Punjab government has assured the public that healthcare facilities across the province are fully prepared to manage the surge in smog-related illnesses. Authorities have also emphasized the importance of preventive measures and are urging residents to limit outdoor activities, particularly during periods of intense smog, to safeguard their health.
