Lung health is no longer an issue for smokers or elderly population. Doctors warn that children, women, and even young adults in India's polluted towns and cities are facing lifelong damage from polluted air, second-hand smoke, and indoor cooking fuel. Experts say lung disease quietly affects both body and mind, and timely screening is as important as routine blood tests.

 “Children breathe faster, which also means that they inhale more smoke and polluted air,” says Dr Prabhat Ranjan Sinha, Senior Consultant- Internal Medicine, from Aakash Healthcare. “Second-hand tobacco smoke, burning of crop residue, and urban air pollution directly affect their lung growth.”

A study published in the "Medical Journal Armed Forces India" (2024) compared youth in Delhi NCR with those in Pauri Garhwal. It found that lung function in Delhi’s young people was 12–17% lower. “This shows that early exposure leaves a mark for life. We are also seeing cases of COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in young adults who never smoked but have lived in polluted environments,” adds Dr. Prabhat.

While breathlessness and cough are visible symptoms, lung disease also impacts the mind. Dr. Manav Manchanda, Director & Head – Respiratory, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, from Asian Hospital said, “People often forget that breathing difficulty is not just a physical problem. COPD and other lung diseases can cause constant fatigue, breathlessness, and dependence on others. This leads to anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal." Dr. Manav explained that when a person cannot climb stairs or sleep properly, it affects confidence and emotional well-being. "Lung health and mental health go hand in hand, and treatment should address both,” Dr. Manav said.

In India, women, especially homemakers in rural homes, are more vulnerable to lung disease because of indoor smoke from cooking with wood, coal, or cow dung. This exposure is equal to smoking several cigarettes a day,” says Dr. Sushrut Ganpule, Consultant - Chest Medicine, from Jupiter Hospital.

Urban women, on the other hand, are constantly exposed to traffic pollution and passive smoke at workplaces or homes. “In both cases, their lung health suffers silently. That is why women report higher cases of chronic cough, asthma, and early COPD despite never smoking themselves,” Dr. Sushrut explains.

One of the biggest problems with lung diseases is that they are often ignored until it’s too late, says Dr. Aakaar Kapoor, CEO & Lead Medical Advisor from City X-Ray & Scan Clinic. “Most lung diseases are silent in the early stage. People ignore breathlessness, a long-lasting cough, or fatigue, thinking it is just age or weakness. By the time they come for treatment, the disease is often advanced,” Dr. Aakaar said.

“Tests like spirometry, chest X-rays, CT scans, and lung function tests are simple and effective. We should treat lung check-ups like routine blood tests, which should be done every year after the age of 30, especially for those living in polluted cities,” Dr. Aakaar adds.

Doctors stress that prevention and awareness are as important as treatment. Cleaner fuels in rural homes, stricter pollution control in cities, and widespread lung screening can help protect the youth from chronic illnesses.

Dr. Prabhat says, “An average human inhales 11,000 liters of air every day. If the air itself is toxic, then our lungs are under constant attack. Protecting lung health must be a national priority.”