Besides Checking The Weather, It’s Good to Know The Air Quality Index

While you may have heard the terms “air quality” and “air quality index,” you may not realize what the numbers mean and how they relate to respiratory health and function.

At the office of North Jersey Pulmonary Associates, we provide patients with the information and care that’s needed to protect, preserve, and experience optimal respiratory health. We believe a well-informed patient has the resources and tools to navigate health challenges and make choices that support wellness.

AQI: A simple explanation

The Air Quality Index (AQI) refers to the daily level of pollutants and air cleanliness. It translates air quality data into numbers and representative colors that help agencies, institutions, and individuals know when to take precautions and avoid outdoor activities or exposure to protect their health.

Calculated by the Environmental Protection Agency, the AQI reflects the amount of the following five major pollutants:

• Ground level ozone- “smog.”
• Particulate matter- “soot.”
• Carbon Monoxide
• Sulfur dioxide
• Nitrogen dioxide

Where to get Air Quality information for your area 

Daily information on the air quality where you live is available on the AirNow.gov website.

As a rule of thumb, an air quality index of zero to fifty represents little to no risk to one’s respiratory health, and anything from 51 to 100 indicates the air quality is acceptable for a vast majority of the population. The real danger and worst health effects come with the next four levels. With each defined incremental rise in the index, the air quality goes from unhealthy for sensitive individuals to unhealthy for everyone, to very unhealthy, and finally hazardous.

Air pollution and respiratory health 

Let’s face it, even at the lowest levels; there’s nothing healthy about air pollution. Air pollution can irritate your airway and cause you to experience shortness of breath, precipitate coughing, wheezing, asthmatic attacks, and even chest pain. Plus, it can increase your risk for lung cancer, cardiovascular issues, stroke, and even death.

While air pollution is particularly harmful and dangerous for individuals with lung diseases like asthma, COPD, and other respiratory ailments, it can also have a negative respiratory effect on other age groups and populations. For one thing, babies, children, and the elderly who may have higher respiratory rates, along with people who work or spend a lot of time outdoors, also need to heed the air quality index.

Get the care and guidance you need to breathe easier

As skilled and experienced physicians, our pulmonologists provide state-of-the-art care to help patients of all ages experience optimal respiratory health. At North Jersey Pulmonary Associates, we advise patients of the simple steps they can take to reduce their exposure to unhealthy air and lower their risk of disease. We also provide treatment for any existing or exacerbated respiratory conditions.