Should I Exercise Outside When it's Smokey?

Hi everyone!

Hope you are all safe and sound despite the fires and the pandemic still ravaging the state. I wanted to go over guidelines on outdoor exercise when it is smokey. 


Background 

  • At the time of this email, California is experiencing dozens of wildfires across the state.

  • Many cities are experiencing a decrease in air quality, due to the increase of smoke and ash in the air.

  • If you can see smoke and smell smoke that means your inhaling particulate matter and unhealthy gases.

  • Smoke can affect anyone, regardless of age, fitness level, or health and those most susceptible in its health impacts include older adults, young children, women who are pregnant, and people with heart or lung disease.

  • Health impacts of smoke can vary depending on each person's sensitivity level, the duration of outdoor (physical) activity, as well as how long a region is impacted by smoke.

Exercise and Smoke

  • When you exercise your body inhales more oxygen and air than normal, exercise inhalation rates can increase by a factor of 3x.

  • Many people don't realize that if you smell smoke, you're breathing it. This means that during a wildfire incident where smoke is traveling through or staying stagnant for multiple days, people are breathing air that contains pollutants.

  • It is important to modify your physical activity during a wildfire event to prevent any health impacts from breathing in smoke.

  • The table on the next page shows exercise recommendations base on the AIR QUALITY INDEX (AQI)

air quality and exercise


Find real-time AQI @ purpleair.com


Final Thoughts 

  • Right now it is especially important to increase your cardiovascular and respiratory health due to COVID, exercising outside during a wildfire event can hinder that progress or even cause respiratory issues. Check your AQI and modify your behavior based on the recommendations.

  • It does not mean you should be sedentary, it just means you have to change your workout environment for a few days.

  • Be safe everyone!

Milad Ebadat