Could poor AQI be behind your mood swings? Shocking effects 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 reveal this can also include an individual’s emotional well-being and mood. Constantly inhaling the air that is polluted can increase your risk of contracting various infections and health complications like asthma, bronchitis, difficulty in breathing, skin allergies, nausea and fatigue.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Sonal Anand, Psychiatrist at Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai’s Mira Road, shared, “Falling ill too often and frequent doctor visits can create feelings of irritation, frustration, anxiety, stress, and agitation. Over time, this can negatively affect one’s mental health leading to depression, stress, and anxiety.”

She added, “This is why it has become a 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 constantly take initiatives to improve the air quality index by avoiding smoking in public places and not using personal vehicles even for covering short distances. If you feel stressed or anxious due to pollution or poor AQI then consider consulting a therapist to seek professional help.”

The link between poor AQI and mental health

• Poor air quality index is often the byproduct of high levels of air pollution. This can have significant effects on one’s physical health making them frequently ill. Frequent exposure to pollutants and allergens in the air can lead to several respiratory problems and conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. This can highly affect the overall functioning of your lungs while aggravating your condition.
• Several studies highlight the surprising link between poor AQI and mental health problems in individuals. Increased pollution and poor AQI can interfere with one’s mental health resulting in anxiety, depression, and stress. Long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to cognitive decline in many.

• When the AQI is poor it can increase stress and anxiety levels in individuals. Living in a polluted area that frequently has poor AI can be stressful as they constantly keep worrying about their and their family members’ overall health. Too much stress combined with fear of being ill can heighten one’s anxiety.
• Depression can be a common mental health condition in people with low/ high AQI areas. There’s a significant link between increased cases of depression and air pollution. The pathogens, dirt, and dust particles in the air can influence the neurotransmitter system in the brain. Some studies have shown that poor air quality can lower Dopamine and Serotonin levels in the striatum .This can lead to mood swings and a deteriorated mental state.