The old and mighty Deodar trees in and around Shimla are supposed to lend healthy environment to the hill city in Himachal Pradesh. Not in autumn, however, when they turn the breeze yellow and leave the Queen of Hills breathless.
The pollens shed by Deodar trees in September-October trigger allergies of different types and aggravate asthma.
The strength of pollens (yellow) is greater this time, and hence the health problems. The foresters say the Deodar trees shed more pollens once in three-four years, which is also referred as seed year.
The impact is visible in the city, which has actually come up in the midst of the Deodar forest over the last century and a half.
The Deodar pollens could be seen suspended in the air, with thick deposits over rooftops as well as on the ground.
The vehicles, the household articles and the clothes get a covering of pollens, as the yellow powder dust spreads with the breeze.
The dryness in air in the autumn months (with low humidity) after monsoons give opportune time to Deodar pollens remain suspended in air, turning it more dangerous for health. This could be very well fathomed by the sudden rise in patients of asthma and allergies—skin, nasal tract, upper respiratory tract or in eyes- visiting local hospitals.
Doctors say the fine pollens of Deodar trees are inhaled with the breath and deposit in the respiratory tract. They deposit on skin as well, causing irritation. Around 60 per cent of asthma patients are allergic to causes of different origin. It’s difficult to find out as to what is the exact cause. But the pollens do aggravate their problem of asthma, this time around.
“We do have more patients with different allergies visiting in autumn in Shimla. But we do not have the specific testing facility here to directly relate it to pollens,” Dr Ashwani Sood, Professor and Head of the Department of Paedtrics in Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Shimla told The Statesman. Dr Sood said people with asthmatic tendency, who may not be on medicine, start facing problems in breathing in this season.
“The locals, who find themselves allergic to pollens should avoid living or walking in the areas with a high density of Deodar trees,” Dr Sood said.
Outer protection from pollens by covering the nose or face apart, the doctors advise that the treatment for any allergy in this season also should be started only after medical advice.
People residing in upper parts of town, including Jakhu hill, Richmond, face more health problems in this season as the localities are surrounded by Deodar greens. Not surprisingly, some residents have even been forced to shift out of these “pollen prone localities” to avoid debilitating asthma attacks every autumn.