Air Quality Awareness Week Day 2: Asthma and Your Health

May 02, 2023

From May 1-5, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) is helping celebrate National Air Quality Awareness Week 2023! Throughout the week, NDEP is taking steps to inform all Nevadans about how air quality affects their lives. This includes sharing information and resources about air monitoring, impacts to public health, and ways to support air quality science. This is the second blog in this series. Read Part 1.

May is Asthma Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 25 million Americans (or 1 in 12 people in the U.S.) have asthma. Air pollution can have a big impact on those living with the condition. Pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen compounds, and carbon monoxide are known triggers for asthma attacks. Asthma attacks involve inflammation, mucus production, and muscle contractions in the lower airways, which makes breathing more difficult. Such episodes often require additional medications, or even a trip to the emergency room. EPA has funded studies which have indicated links between air pollution and asthma symptoms.

People with asthma and other chronic lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, are not the only ones affected by air pollution. Children, older adults, and people who exercise or work vigorously outdoors also are at risk. Ozone air pollution is more common in the summer months and can irritate the respiratory system, reduce lung function, and inflame and damage the lungs. Over time, ozone exposure can even cause permanent lung damage.

Asthmatics and other at-risk groups, including older adults, children, those with cardiovascular or respiratory disease, and individuals who work outside, can use the Air Quality Index (AQI) daily forecasts gain insight to the current air quality conditions. This information can be used to plan outdoor activities for times when air pollution is expected to be low.

Courtesy: Cleveland Clinic