As per the World Health Organization, all but 1% of the world's population is exposed to unhealthy air and also exceeds the WHO limits for pollutants. However, there are some parts of the world where aur quality has improved through policies that limits pollution, while in other parts, it has not reached the desired results.

For US, more than 25% of the population is exposed to "unhealthy" air as per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this is according to the report by the climate non-profit First Street Foundation. By 2050, the number of people exposed to "unhealthy" air will increase by more than half. The worst days of air pollution, reports BBC, "hazardous" or maroon under the EPA's system will rise by 27%.

Why are we talking about this today? It is because of the recent wildfire in California, which started on January 7. This is also one of the factors that is spiking the PM2.5 levels. It has increased by up to five micrograms per cubic metre in the western US in the past decade.

What is PM2.5?

It is a type of air pollution which is made of particulate matter and measures 2.5 micrometres across or less. It is roughly 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair. These particles are made with a mixture of solid and liquid substances, which varies in their chemical composition, including carbon, metals, and organic compounds.

These specks of airborne soot, dust and other substances can also trigger inflammation, which could also damage your brain.

As per a 2021 study titled The Changing risk and burden of wildfire in the United States, a quarter of US's PM2.5 pollution was caused by wildfire smoke. In 2023, US also witnessed a significant dip in air quality and visibility as smoke from wildfires north of the Canadian border entered across the continent. In May 2024, Canada also saw a start to its wildfire season, and one town was evacuated in British Colombia.

Wildfire smoke and its effects

Wildfires do not only affect those who live near forests, peatlands, and grasslands, but also to the cities and environment in general. It can send plumes up to 14 miles or 23km into the stratosphere, and from there, it can spread all over the globe. For instance, in 2023, the Siberian wildfires released smoke that travelled across the Pacific Oceans to reach Alaska and Seattle.

Other than PM2.5, wildfire smoke is also harmful to immune cells in lungs, and the toxicity could be four times greater than particulates from other types of pollution.

Another 2019 study titled Effects of Atmosphere Processing on the Oxidative Potential of Biomass Burning Organic Aerosols found the toxicity of smoke doubled in the hours after it was first emitted and reached four times greater toxicity at its peak.

Health Impact

There have been research that shows how pollution affects your brain. It can lead to impaired judgment, poorer performance in school and even higher levels of crime, as per the 2018 study by the London School of Economics.

Other health concerns include weight gain. There have been researches that links airborne pollution such as PM2.5 to obesity. The studies have found that children who live in most polluted areas are twice as more likely to have obesity. Some studies also find the link of air pollution harming our sense of smell. As per an Italian study from 2022, titled Association between environmental air pollution and olfactory functioning among Italian adolescents and young adults in Northern Italy, noses of teenagers and young adults became less sensitive to odors after being exposed to nitrogen dioxide, which is a component in traffic fumes.

Josie Gibson, English TV personality, opened up about her secret health disorder and that she is turning to a "last resort" surgery for the same. She revealed that this health challenge has left her with extreme pain. This Morning presenter, 40, appeared on the show and spoke to Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard about being diagnosed and having a "lipodema" body. She said, "A couple of years ago somebody actually said on Instagram, 'you have got a typical lipodema body'. I thought, 'what's lipedema?'"

She said she did not even have a clue, but she knew something was not right. But she did not know what lipedema was. She got diagnosed about a year ago and had a surgery. She told her fans that she has been "constantly fighting" her genetics.

What Did Josie Gibson Reveal About The Surgery?

Speaking on ITV’s This Morning, Gibson said surgery was a “last resort” but described herself as happy with the results after spending around £7,000 on liposuction to treat her calves. She explained that the procedure, which combines liposuction with a technique that tightens the skin, had to be carried out in stages.

“The last thing I want to do is put myself through surgery, but it was my last resort,” she said, adding that she had only treated her calves so far. Gibson said the change in her appearance had been significant, telling viewers: “All my life I have wanted to have ankles. I’ve finally got them.”

What Is Lipedema?

Lipoedema is a condition that mainly affects women and causes an abnormal build-up of fat, most commonly in the legs and sometimes the arms. It can make the lower body appear out of proportion and is often associated with pain, tenderness and a feeling of heaviness.

Gibson said she had always felt something “wasn’t right” with her body but was only diagnosed with lipoedema last September. She said specialists told her that diet and exercise would not remove the affected fat. “They said I could train seven days a week and I wouldn’t get rid of lipoedema fat like that,” she said.

Describing the impact of the condition, Gibson said her legs felt increasingly out of place compared with the rest of her body and that symptoms had worsened over time, now also affecting her arms. “I could train, train and train but really, I’m going down the surgery route now,” she added.

Lipoedema specialist Dr Dennis Wolf, who also appeared on the programme, said the condition is not currently treated on the NHS due to the lack of a formal diagnostic test and limited research. He said doctors often rely on symptoms and patient experiences to identify it and believes some people may have a genetic predisposition.

Dr Wolf explained that lipoedema fat is resistant to weight loss, meaning people can exercise and diet without seeing changes in affected areas. While surgery is the most common way to manage the condition, other treatments include compression garments to help reduce discomfort.

Gibson also shared a light-hearted moment from her surgery, admitting the anaesthetic left her flirtatious and apologetic towards her surgeons.

Fewer people are dying of heart disease, however, as per a new report from the American Heart Association (AHA), it is still the leading cause of death in the US. While the report noted a drop in rates of deaths by heart diseases for the first time in five years, the report also noted that it kills more American than any other condition. The report was published early Wednesday in the journal Circulation.

What Did The AHA Report Reveal?

The report found that annual rates of heart disease deaths have in fact decreased by 2.7% between 2022 and 2023. This means it went from 941,652 to 915, 973. However, cardiovascular diseases still killed more people in the US than cancer and accidents combined.

The report found that deaths caused by blockages in the coronary arteries, the blood vessels supplying the heart, fell by 5.9%, dropping from 371,506 to 349,470 over the same period. Coronary artery disease, a major cause of heart attacks, still claims two lives every three minutes. Other vessel-damaging chronic conditions also remain widespread.

The report found that the share of U.S. adults with high blood pressure edged up to 47.3%, while overall obesity rates dipped slightly to 50%. However, obesity is increasing among children and teenagers, rising from 25.4% to 28.1% in those aged 2 to 19.

Prevention remains the most powerful tool to reduce heart disease deaths, experts say. Because heart disease cannot be cured, waiting for symptoms often means focusing only on treatment rather than stopping the problem early. Early prevention, by contrast, has a much bigger impact on saving lives.

The report highlights four key lifestyle habits for heart health: eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, getting enough sleep and avoiding tobacco. It also stresses four important health measures: managing weight, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure.

Together, these eight factors could prevent up to 40% of heart disease deaths and cut the risk of developing serious heart disease symptoms by as much as 74%. These same habits also benefit the brain, helping slow brain ageing and lower the risk of dementia, especially by keeping blood pressure under control.

Heart Health Is Also an Economic Issue

Cutting down cardiovascular disease in the U.S. would not only help people live healthier lives, it could also ease the strain on the economy, experts say. Heart disease carries a massive financial cost, with an estimated $414.7 billion spent each year on direct treatment and indirect losses between 2021 and 2022.

Even though the benefits of healthy habits are well known, getting people to prioritize heart health remains difficult. Only one in four U.S. adults meets national guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise. Control of chronic conditions is also lacking, with less than half of Americans with type 2 diabetes managing their disease effectively.

Experts stress that regular physical activity, tailored to individual ability, can make a real difference. Simple, consistent movement and timely health checkups can go a long way in protecting both personal health and the wider economy.

Wondering how Katrina Kaif and Deepika Padukone's skin stays glowing all-year round?

Nutritionist Shweta Shah, who advises both actors, recently revealed on an episode of The Mumta Podcast that ghee can boost collagen production in the body and works better than any other supplement.

She recommended having one teaspoon of ghee in one glass of warm water every morning for two months or 8 to 9 weeks instead of resorting to collagen supplements for glowing skin.

“You will see that you wouldn’t need any collagen supplements. If you try it, you will notice the difference in the 8th to 9th week. You will not see any difference in just 3-4 weeks because the body is working that way,” Shah said.

She further suggested having soups like pumpkin and carrot soup, which are filled with beta carotene, for good skin. “Then results differ from body to body depending on its nature or constitution,” Shah added.

Ghee is known to be deeply moisturizing and can significantly reduce signs of ageing such as wrinkles, when consumed, adding a natural glow to theface.

Moreover, it also soothes inflammation and brightens complexions due to its rich vitamins (A, E, D) and fatty acids. The 'superfood' also acts as a natural emollient, hydrates by retaining moisture, helps clear dark circles and can be applied topically or consumed for overall skin health, promoting elasticity and a youthful look

Jinal Patel, dietitian, Zynova Shalby Hospital, Mumbai, explains to Indian Express: "Vitamin K ensures the hassle-free production of collagen, a protein that keeps the skin intact by avoiding sagging. In short, including ghee in your nutrition plan helps maintain good skin provided other lifestyle measures are in place."

READ MORE: Cardiologists Lift The Lid On Whether Ghee Is Unhealthy For Your Children

But Is Ghee Dangerous For You?

This comes days after actor Genelia D'Souza revealed she does not feed her children ghee over fears of blocking their arteries and causing heart damage.

During an episode of Soha Ali Khan’s YouTube podcast 'All About Her', D'Souza said: "Ghee was never a very big part of my diet. I’ve always been more conscious because cholesterol issues run in my family. Whether it was non-vegetarian food or anything else, it was always on my mind, I didn’t want to go overboard.

"We start building habits early. You can't keep feeding children excessive amounts of certain foods and then expect them to suddenly not be overweight and head to the gym later in life. It has to make sense."

And Dr Lakshmi Sukumaran, senior consultant, cardiac, transplant anesthesia and critical care at Metromed International Cardiac Centre agrees!

The specialist told HealthandMe: "Children need appropriate fat for growth, brain development, and hormone synthesis. However, children also do not need excess saturated fat.

"Small amounts of ghee, a teaspoon added to food is not harmful for healthy children with normal weight, active lifestyle and no genetic lipid disorders.

What should be avoided is high daily intake, especially when combined with sedentary lifestyle and calorie excess."

So How Much Ghee Is Safe To Consume?

Made from cow milk butter, ghee contains about 130 calories and 15 grams of fat on average. Experts suggest consuming not more than two teaspoons of ghee every day for adults.

Dr Sukumaran explains that it is necessary for adults to practice moderation as it can pave the way for the development of atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque builds up inside your arteries over the years and causes artery blockage.

She noted: "Ghee is simply a concentrated source of saturated fat. Saturated fats are known to raise LDL cholesterol in many individuals. Elevated LDL is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. But this effect is dose-dependent, meaning quantity and frequency matter. So, intake of ghee in moderation does not worsen heart health. What matters is long-term dietary patterns.

"Studies on ghee consumption show mixed results; some show mild increases in LDL or triglycerides at high intake, while others show neutral effects when intake is modest and part of a traditional diet.

"Science supports moderation, not fear mongering a particular type of food, and certainly not oversimplified statements of celebrities about arterial blockage."