Could poor AQI be behind your mood swings? Shocking impact of air quality on mental health

Air quality can have a significant impact on one’s overall health as well as daily life, and experts point out that this can also include a person’s emotional well-being and mood. Constantly breathing polluted air can increase the risk of various infections and health complications like asthma, bronchitis, difficulty breathing, skin allergies, nausea and fatigue.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Sonal Anand, psychiatrist at Wockhardt Hospital in Mira Road, Mumbai, shared, “Falling ill frequently and frequent visits to the doctor can create feelings of irritability, depression, anxiety, stress and agitation. Can happen. Over time, this can have a negative impact on one’s mental health, leading to depression, stress and anxiety.”

He said, “That is why it has become the need of the hour to take proactive steps to improve the air quality index in India for better mental health and physical well-being. People should continuously take initiative to improve the air quality index, avoid smoking in public places and should not use private vehicles even to cover short distances. If you feel stressed or anxious due to pollution or poor AQI, consider consulting a physician to seek professional help.

Relationship between poor AQI and mental health

• Poor air quality index is often a result of high levels of air pollution. This can have a significant impact on one’s physical health, causing them to fall ill frequently. Repeated exposure to airborne pollutants and allergens can cause many respiratory problems and conditions like asthma and bronchitis. This can greatly affect the overall functioning of your lungs, worsening your condition.
• Several studies highlight the surprising relationship between poor AQI and mental health problems in individuals. Increasing pollution and poor AQI can interfere with one’s mental health resulting in anxiety, depression and stress. Long-term exposure to air pollution can cause cognitive decline in many people.

• When AQI is poor it can increase stress and anxiety levels in individuals. Living in a polluted area where there is often poor AI can be stressful as they are constantly worried about the overall health of themselves and their family members. Too much stress combined with the fear of getting sick can increase one’s anxiety.
• Depression can be a common mental health condition in people living in low/high AQI areas. There is a significant relationship between increasing cases of depression and air pollution. Pathogens, dirt and dust particles present in the air can affect the neurotransmitter system in the brain. Some studies have shown that poor air quality can reduce dopamine and serotonin levels in the striatum. This can cause mood changes and worsen mental condition.