Air Pollution Impact on Lungs During Exercise
Under normal “sitting around” conditions, you’ll draw in at least a couple gallons of air per minute. During aerobic exercise, this amount increases dramatically. At least ten times, but likely more.
Not only does the volume of air you breath substantially increase, but you’ll breath in deeper and that air won’t pass through your pollutant trapping nose. Larger particles tend to get caught up in the mucous of your nose, mouth and throat. The nose being the most efficient at ensnaring them.
Course your lungs’ mucous and cilia participate in keeping the crap out as well. Yet, less is best when it comes to air pollution’s impact on your lungs.
Exercise is all about oxygen delivery. You get that oxygen from the air. But, sometimes you also get noxious pollutants right along with it. More specifically, unhealthy levels of ozone, carbon monoxide, airborne particles, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide or lead.
When you exercise in polluted air, you’ll draw air in deeper and increase your lungs’ contact with these pollutants. This foreign matter causes inflammation and lung lining cell damage. Not only will your lung function be reduced on the spot, but studies indicate repetitive incidences may lead to cancer, scarring and permanent reduction in lung function.
You can minimize your deep lung exposure to air pollution by checking the level of pollutants in your area. And then don’t engage in deep lung inhaling exercises when it’s unhealthy or above.
- Why Some People Die During Exercise
- Why You May Feel Out of Breath During Exercise
- Endorphins: Natural Pain Killer for Survival of Severe Injury
- Benefits of Exercise for Staying Healthy, Disease Fighting, Weight Loss
Filed under: Air
