Air Quality Awareness Week 2016: Asthma & Air Quality |
May 3, 2016
May 3rd is World Asthma Day. Did you know that asthma affects almost 24 million Americans, including more than 6 million children? This chronic disease affects the lungs, and can cause wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. Asthma can be controlled by taking medicine and avoiding the triggers that can cause an attack. Does someone in your family have asthma? Have you ever noticed if their symptoms, such as coughing or wheezing, get worse when the air is polluted? Air pollution can be an asthma trigger. |
School Activity Guide:
|
|
• When you are physically active, your asthma symptoms are more likely to occur when the air is polluted. Follow EPA and CDC’s air quality and outdoor activity guidance.
• Asthma symptoms can begin a day after you have been outdoors in polluted air. Outdoor air pollution can make you more sensitive to other asthma triggers, like pets, mold, and dust mites.
• Ozone is often worst on hot summer days, especially in the afternoon and early evening.
• Particle pollution can be bad any time of year, especially when the weather is calm, which allows air pollution to build up. Particle levels also can be high near busy roads, around factories, and when there is smoke in the air.
• When the AQI forecast reaches Code Orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups) make sure to follow your asthma action plan.
|
|
