Air Quality and Your Health

How's the air quality where you live? If you live in a large city, often you can see the pollution in the air, as it resembles a brown haze. Some air pollutants can be seen and others can only be smelled. Either way, air pollution can impact your health, even if you live in a smaller town. Some comes from man-made materials and byproducts of gas, vehicle emissions, and fuel oils. Other comes from natural sources, like smoke from wildfires or methane from organic matter decomposing in soil. Air pollution is responsible for more than 6.5 million deaths per year globally. Air pollution affects our health because it causes oxidative stress in our bodies and damage to our cells. This can lead to inflammation and certain types of cancer, respiratory illness, and is linked to a higher risk of developing certain neurological disorders. Air pollution affects everyone, but those living in urban areas can be affected more. So what can you do? HEPA filters in your home can help purify the air you breathe and reduce your risk of exposure to pollutants in the home. Foods rich in antioxidants help fight free radicals in the body and help reduce oxidative stress. Avoid smoking and vaping, and avoid processed foods. 

Air Pollution and Your Health