Poor Air Quality and the Impact on Your Health
Hazy skies during the summer months should be as concerning as they look. The lingering hue could be heat, elevated ozone air pollution, particulate pollution related to wildfire smoke, or a combination of all three. These conditions can coexist because heat increases ozone levels and smoke from wildfires are triggered when conditions are hot and dry. Each cause one can lead to potentially severe health effects.
"It is something we are experiencing more frequently due to climate change and hotter and drier conditions," says Cheryl Pirozzi, MD, a pulmonologist at Сòòò½APP.
Several health effects could be triggered due to these environmental exposures, including:
1. Heat and Air Pollution
- Heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke
- Exacerbation of underlying Сòòò½APPs, including chronic obstructive pulmonary Сòòò½APP () and heart Сòòò½APP
2. Ozone Air Pollution
- Hospitalization for respiratory Сòòò½APP
- Pneumonia or respiratory infections in both adults and children
- Exacerbations of lung Сòòò½APP such as asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary fibrosis
- Increase of death from respiratory and cardiovascular Сòòò½APPs
3. Wildfire smoke and particulate pollution
- Risk for respiratory Сòòò½APP
- Emergency visits and hospitalization for asthma and COPD
- Susceptibility to respiratory infections
- Cardiovascular hospitalizations
- Mortality
At-Risk Groups
Everyone is vulnerable to experiencing complications during times of high pollution, ozone, and wildfire smoke. Those who are most at risk of severe health effects are:
- Older adults
- Children
- Pregnant women
- People with underlying heart and lung Сòòò½APP
- Those who work outdoors
Preventative Measures
Tips to protect yourself during poor air quality include:
- Limit outdoor activity. Avoid being outside during times of high heat and pollution.
- Choose the right time. If you must be outside, go in the morning when air is cleaner and temperatures are cooler.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids.
- Use protective masks. N95 or N99 masks can help filter particulate pollution but won’t protect against gases or heat.
- Improve indoor air. Use HEPA filters
- Watch for symptoms. Seek medical care if you experience trouble breathing, coughing, or fever.
