Medical experts have warned patients suffering from lung and heart diseases, blood pressure and diabetes to exercise caution as their condition might worsen during the festive of lights, Diwali. Firecrackers can trigger heart and lung problems, they noted. During this time, owing to weather change patients of bronchial asthma need to be careful as they are more prone to developing infections. Hence, they should avoid being too close to burning firecrackers and avoid smoke, said experts. Further, in case of diabetics and hypertensive people celebration with sweets and fatty foods could disturb their health regimen, they said. "Diwali time sees a rise in cardiac and respiratory problems are due to increase in pollution due to firecrackers. The climate also changes during this time and post-Diwali, heart patients and people suffering from high BP, diabetes and breathing problem queue up in the hospitals as they do not abide by the precautions prescribed by doctors," said Dr. Purshotam Lal, Padma Vibhushan Awardee and chairman of Metro Hospitals and Heart Institute. Also, since weather is also undergoing a change, people should be well clad. Binge eating, binge drinking and binge smoking should be avoided during festivities, said Dr. Lal. "The pollution level shoots up due to lighting of firecrackers during the festival and people with respiratory diseases like asthma, bronchitis and those having hypersensitive airways need to be extra careful. People are advised to stay indoors to avoid inhaling smoke from outside," said Dr Sandeep. According to Dr. Rakesh Kumar, senior consultant, internal medicine at Apollo Hospital, "Firecrackers like sparklers and anars include highly toxic heavy metals like copper, cadmium, lead, manganese, zinc, sodium and potassium. These metals, if present in the air, can trigger asthma in a patient and can cause severe headache, respiratory diseases in the lungs, apart from chronic cough, stressed Dr Ratan Kimar Vaish, senior consultant (internal medicine) of Rockland Hospital. As a precautionary step, one must stay near water to address to burns immediately. In case of any burns, cool it with water and once the burning sensation is no more felt use ointment such as Silver Sulfadiazine, Dr Vaish added.