{"id":10216,"date":"2024-07-26T09:01:30","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T09:01:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=10216"},"modified":"2024-07-26T09:25:37","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T09:25:37","slug":"is-it-safe-to-exercise-outdoors-when-the-air-is-smoky-from-wildfires","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=10216","title":{"rendered":"Is It Safe to Exercise Outdoors When the Air Is Smoky from Wildfires?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><\/div>\n<p id=\"article-summary\" class=\"css-79rysd e1wiw3jv0\">The answer depends on your overall health, along with the length and intensity of your workout.<\/p>\n<section class=\"meteredContent css-1r7ky0e\">\n<div class=\"css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">This week, smoke from wildfires burning in the Western United States and Canada is affecting air quality levels <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/07\/25\/climate\/wildfire-smoke-climate.html\" title>as far east as New England<\/a>. When the air is smoky, it\u2019s important to consider whether it\u2019s safe to exercise outdoors \u2014 and how to protect yourself if you choose to head out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">There is very little research on the health effects of short-term exposure to wildfire smoke, including during exercise. So, when estimating what the smoke does to the body, there aren\u2019t always clear answers, said Dr. Michael Koehle, a kinesiologist at the University of British Columbia who studies the interaction between environmental pollution and exercise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Still, based on what we know about the kinds of particles found in wildfire smoke and their potential health effects, experts say it\u2019s important to monitor air quality and, when conditions are bad, to avoid outdoor workouts or keep them short.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Individuals who may be more sensitive to the effects of smoke should be especially careful \u2014 including children, older adults and those who are pregnant or have underlying lung or cardiovascular conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or heart disease, said Dr. Stephanie Christenson, a pulmonologist at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-s99gbd StoryBodyCompanionColumn\">\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">As the climate changes, wildfire season <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/climate-indicators\/climate-change-indicators-wildfires\" title rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">is getting longer<\/a> and affecting more regions of the United States. Here\u2019s what you need to know to stay safe.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"css-1u37br4 eoo0vm40\" id=\"link-737c9b2b\">What wildfire smoke does to the body<\/h2>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Wildfire smoke is a mixture of various kinds of particles and gases \u2014 including trace minerals, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other organic chemicals \u2014 that are released into the air as a fire burns. It contains \u201creally, really small particles that can lodge deeply into your lungs,\u201d Dr. Christenson said. These particles, some of which have a diameter <a class=\"css-yywogo\" href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/pm-pollution\/particulate-matter-pm-basics#PM\" title rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">30 times smaller<\/a> than that of a single human hair, can get into the tiny air sacs known as alveoli, and affect how well they function, she explained. From there, they can also enter the bloodstream and cause harm elsewhere in the body.<\/p>\n<div class=\"css-1336jj\">\n<div class=\"css-121kum4\">\n<div class=\"css-171d1bw\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"css-asuuk5\">\n<div class=\"css-7axq9l\" data-testid=\"optimistic-truncator-noscript\">\n<div data-testid=\"optimistic-truncator-noscript-message\" class=\"css-6yo1no\">\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">We are having trouble retrieving the article content.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1dv1kvn\" id=\"optimistic-truncator-a11y\">\n<hr \/>\n<p>Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/myaccount.nytimes.com\/auth\/login?response_type=cookie&amp;client_id=vi&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fwell%2Fmove%2Fexercise-outdoors-safety-wildfire-smoke.html&amp;asset=opttrunc\">log into<\/a>\u00a0your Times account, or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fwell%2Fmove%2Fexercise-outdoors-safety-wildfire-smoke.html\">subscribe<\/a>\u00a0for all of The Times.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1g71tqy\">\n<div data-testid=\"optimistic-truncator-message\" class=\"css-6yo1no\">\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Thank you for your patience while we verify access.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Already a subscriber?\u00a0<a data-testid=\"log-in-link\" class=\"css-z5ryv4\" href=\"https:\/\/myaccount.nytimes.com\/auth\/login?response_type=cookie&amp;client_id=vi&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fwell%2Fmove%2Fexercise-outdoors-safety-wildfire-smoke.html&amp;asset=opttrunc\">Log in<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-3kpklk\">Want all of The Times?\u00a0<a data-testid=\"subscribe-link\" class=\"css-z5ryv4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F07%2F26%2Fwell%2Fmove%2Fexercise-outdoors-safety-wildfire-smoke.html\">Subscribe<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The answer depends on your overall health, along with the length and intensity of your workout.This week, smoke from wildfires burning in the Western United States and Canada is affecting air quality levels as far east as New England. When the air is smoky, it\u2019s important to consider whether it\u2019s safe to exercise outdoors \u2014 and how to protect yourself if you choose to head out.There is very little research on the health effects of short-term exposure to wildfire smoke, including during exercise. So, when estimating what the smoke does to the body, there aren\u2019t always clear answers, said Dr. Michael Koehle, a kinesiologist at the University of British Columbia who studies the interaction between environmental pollution and exercise.Still, based on what we know about the kinds of particles found in wildfire smoke and their potential health effects, experts say it\u2019s important to monitor air quality and, when conditions are bad, to avoid outdoor workouts or keep them short.Individuals who may be more sensitive to the effects of smoke should be especially careful \u2014 including children, older adults and those who are pregnant or have underlying lung or cardiovascular conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or heart disease, said Dr. Stephanie Christenson, a pulmonologist at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.As the climate changes, wildfire season is getting longer and affecting more regions of the United States. Here\u2019s what you need to know to stay safe.What wildfire smoke does to the bodyWildfire smoke is a mixture of various kinds of particles and gases \u2014 including trace minerals, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and other organic chemicals \u2014 that are released into the air as a fire burns. It contains \u201creally, really small particles that can lodge deeply into your lungs,\u201d Dr. Christenson said. These particles, some of which have a diameter 30 times smaller than that of a single human hair, can get into the tiny air sacs known as alveoli, and affect how well they function, she explained. From there, they can also enter the bloodstream and cause harm elsewhere in the body.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. 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