FitSugar

Top 10 Cities With the MOST Smog

FitSugar — Wed, 02 May 2007 02:00:00 PDT

Ozone pollution, more popularly known as smog, is a big problem. Smog can inflame and damage the lining of the lungs, which can lead to swelling and restricted airways. Inhaling smog is like getting a sunburn on your lungs. This inflammation can lead to shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and chest pain. It can also aggravate asthma and bring on attacks.

According to the American Heart Association, chronic exposure to air pollution has been linked to heart disease and stroke. The EPA says that exposure to smog can also affect your immune system's ability to fight off bacterial infections.

High levels of ozone, the main ingredient in smog, can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, even in the average person. Bad levels of ozone are formed when heat and sunlight warm certain pollutants from cars and smokestacks from buildings.

Since summer is coming up, it's something we really need to watch out for. If you exercise outdoors in a place that's heavily smoggy, you may notice that it's more difficult to catch your breath. So on high alert days, you may want to workout inside.

Want to see which cities have the most smog? Then

Los Angeles, California
Visalia-Porterville, California
Bakersfield, California
Fresno, California
Houston, Texas
Merced, California
Sacramento, California
Hanford, California
Knoxville, Tennessee
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

Source

Video of the Day: Amazing Time Lapse Footage of Earth

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:15:41 PST

I can't get enough time lapse footage from the ISS. This five-minute video, compiled by Michael Konig from footage taken from the International Space Station between August and October of this year, shows storms, big-city light pollution, and breathtaking views of Earth's Aurora Borealis.

Increased Cancer Risk in These Polluted Cities

FitSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:03:42 PDT

If you live in a city, you know firsthand about air pollution. Eighty different cancer-causing pollutants ca be found in the air, and they're increasing many individuals' risk for developing cancer. According to the National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment released by the EPA, nearly 600 neighborhoods across the US exceed a 100 in one million cancer risk. That means that if one million people breathe toxic air over the course of their lifetime, 100 people would develop cancer solely because of the pollution.

To find out which city's pollution levels are putting their residents at risk for cancer

read more. The chart below shows which areas have an estimated cancer risk greater than 100 in one million. It's no surprise that the major cities are the ones causing the greatest health risks. Tell me, does knowing pollution is directly connected to increased cancer risk affect where you live? Source

Tips For Staying Healthy in a Dirty City

Elka Karl — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 04:00:20 PDT

As much as we try to keep our homes healthy, sometimes our efforts are thwarted by the fact that living in a large urban area means our home environments aren't quite as pristine as we'd like them to be. These environmental risks include noise pollution, which can actually lead to hypertension and heart disease, light pollution, which can interfere with sleep patterns, and particulate pollution from vehicles, which can lead to a number of health issues. I'm not suggesting that we all flee our urban homes - I love living in the city, and feel that the benefits definitely outweigh any risks associated with the urban landscape. Luckily, there are ways that you can counteract the pollution that's often inherent with living in a densely populated place. Here are some easy ways to improve your home's health factor, as well as your own health.

Fill your home with houseplants that clean the air, like these.
Take off your shoes in the entry of your home so you don't track dirt and pollution into your home.
Run an air purifier in your home - this one uses houseplants to clean the air!
Exercise regularly. Exercising in the morning and in outdoor green spaces (such as parks) is best.
Strive to get regular sleep. Use a sound machine and light-blocking curtains to ensure your Zs.

Keep reading for a list of the 10 dirtiest cities in the United States.

You Asked: Running in Polluted Air

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:07:37 PST

Hi FitSugar, Has the topic of running and pollution been raised recently? I live in Los Angeles and gave up running in the morning because my lungs would burn afterward and I'd be coughing the rest of the day. I wouldn't have the symptoms when I ran before rush hour, at night, or at the gym. I am a non-smoker, typically running 3-5 miles at an easy pace, 2-3 days per week. Have other readers had the same experience, or do you have some thoughts on avoiding pollution-related lung or heart damage for city runners? -Secondhand Smog Sucks

This is a great question, and one that extends to international proportions. Training in pollution was a huge topic during the Beijing 2008 Olympics due to the city's high level of air pollutants. Individuals noted that running in Beijing was a nightmare on the lungs, and many athletes refused to train there before the games. And though air pollution in Beijing is a whopping five times higher than the World Health Organization's standard, it got people thinking about what harmful effects they might be exposing themselves to when exercising outdoors.

To find out what risks are associated with exercising outdoors,

Even though the United States adheres to strict air quality standards, exercising outdoors may be risky. Air quality varies from city to city, and since athletes breathe with "particular vigor and oomph," this might be especially harmful in cities with poorer air quality, like Los Angeles. As reported by the New York Times:

Dr. Kenneth Rundell, the director of the Human Performance Laboratory at Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania, said, "Athletes typically take in 10 to 20 times as much air," and thus pollutants, with every breath as sedentary people do.

Despite this news, experts say that you shouldn't stop running outside. The good news is that the risks associated with air pollution are small compared with the damages associated with "cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, obesity, or high blood pressure." Instead, limit your exposure to air pollutants: avoid running at rush hour and keep as far away from traffic as possible. Also, stay away from any areas where exhaust may be an issue. Because ozone levels are at their lowest when the sun goes down, work out at night or during early morning hours.

And while the short term effects of air pollution fall in line with what you describe - burning lungs or eyes, coughing, and chest tightness - the long-term effects (especially in relation to low-level exposure) are a new area of study with spotty data. The EPA does warn that constant exposure to "dust, fuel combustion, power plants, and diesel buses and trucks" can cause significant health problems like chronic bronchitis or asthma.

To be extra safe, check your local air quality forecast before heading out. If air quality is poor, make that a day to exercise indoors. Keep in mind that when exercising outdoors you breathe in a lot more pollutants than otherwise so consider keeping workouts inside if air quality is ranked as "unhealthy for sensitive groups," and most definitely if it falls below this level.