Air quality refers to how clean or polluted the air in an area is. Canada and some parts of the western United States, including cities in Oregon, Colorado, California, and Washington, are just a few places where air quality is poor, especially from wildfires. According to the U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), this type of air quality can range from “unhealthy” to “dangerous.”
Still, poor air quality can happen anytime, anywhere and affect your daily life, including your exercise habits. Exercising outdoors is not a good idea when the air quality is poor, while indoor exercising may depend on factors such as ventilation. Here’s what else you need to know.
What Causes Poor Air Quality?
Air pollution is the main cause of poor air quality, and it is a broad term. It describes a mixture of harmful substances from both man-made and natural sources. Many factors contribute to poor air quality, including:
- By-products of manufacturing and power generation
- Gases from volcanic eruptions
- Gases released from the decomposition of organic matter in the soil, such as methane
- Oil and natural gas for home heating
- Smoke from chemical production
- Smoke from wildfires
- Vehicle emissions
There are also many different elements in air pollution that are harmful to you, such as:
- Chemicals such as sulfates, nitrates, and carbon
- Fine particulate matter or mineral dust
- Ground-level ozone
- Nitrogen oxides
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
- Sulfur oxides
- Carbon in all its forms
- Volatile organic compounds
How Does Poor Air Quality Affect Your Health?
In the short term, breathing poor-quality air can lead to symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing. Exposure to air pollution can lead to serious health problems over time. Here are the potential problems:
- Increased risk of lung diseases, including asthma, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Chronic bronchitis
- Impaired vascular function
- Increased risk of stroke
- Hypertensive disorders
- Increased risk of cancer, including lung and breast cancer
Safety of Outdoor Sports When Air Quality Is Poor
Some research reviews suggest that the adverse effects of exercising during periods of poor air quality may depend on the following factors:
- How healthy a person is
- How long and how hard a person exercises
- How polluted is the air
For example, exercising at moderate AQI levels may be appropriate for individuals who are not sensitive to air pollutants. The “moderate” level is just below the AQI level of “unhealthy for sensitive groups”.
Still, exposure to poor air quality is not good under any circumstances, including during exercise.
Prolonged intense exercise will make you breathe faster. During exercise, people tend to breathe more through their mouths than through their noses, allowing more particles to enter the airways. These conditions, combined with poor air quality, may increase your risk of adverse health effects.
Research is underway to learn more about the link between air pollution and physical activity. You should also talk to a healthcare provider about how safe it is for you to exercise according to the AQI.
Safety of Indoor Exercise When Air Quality Is Poor
If you plan to exercise in a place with good air quality, indoor workouts may be an option. Make sure the area:
- Filtered air
- Closed windows (if applicable)
- Very clean
- Well ventilated
A good air purifier that targets mold, smoke, and other allergens can go a long way in improving indoor air quality. In terms of physical activity, keep your workouts short and less intense. With low-intensity activity, you can reduce the chances of taking a faster or too deep breath of air.
If you decide to exercise indoors with poor air quality, it’s crucial to listen to your body. Coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing are just a few of the signs that you should stop exercising and wait for things to get better.
Conclusion
Poor air quality, defined as air pollution above clean air, can lead to unsafe outdoor sports. When air quality is at an “unhealthy” level or higher, it’s not a good idea to exercise outdoors with poor air quality. However, depending on your health and other factors, you may be able to exercise safely indoors.
