It’s 6:00 am and the sound of the ringing alarm notifies you that it’s time for your morning workout. As you are running on your treadmill, you notice that you do not have the same energy level that you once did. You sleep well and eat right, the problem may be in the air you are breathing.
Exercising in an environment with poor air quality can negate some of the benefits of working out. Studies have shown that people who spent two hours walking down a busy street did not reap nearly the same benefits as people who spent two hours walking in the park.
If you exercise outdoors, it is recommended that you do your workout early in the morning or late in the evening. Pollution increases as the temperature rises. People who live in big cities and exercise outside may develop asthma. Long term exposure to pollution from carbon monoxide can lead to chronic lung issues.
The World Health Organization has determined that about 4.6 million people annually die of air pollution-related illnesses. With all the evidence that exercising outside can hurt you, many people have moved their exercise routines indoors.
Is it safer to exercise at home?
If you want to avoid air pollution, sudden rainstorms, and bugs, and other debris getting into your nose and eyes, you might want to think about buying a piece of exercise equipment and working out at home. This can be a good solution so long as the air in your home is clean.
Indoor air pollution has also been linked to adversary health effects. Symptoms of IAP can be as small as itchy watery eyes, fatigue, or dizziness. It has also been linked to serious lung diseases and even cancer.
Mold, mildew, and debris can become trapped in the heating and cooling system of your home. It is important to clean and replace your air filters on a regular basis. Your air conditioner and the air vents in your home should all have filters to keep debris from getting in.
What Kind of Filters You should Get
There are various quality levels of filters available. They are ranked from 1 to 16 by what is called the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value MERV. Filters that are rated under a 6 will trap only major particles of dust and debris. The highest quality of air filter recommended for a home is a MERV 13 or higher to have truly clean air in your home. Even the highest quality of air filter is reasonably priced and easy to change. However, you do want to make sure that the air filter you buy will work with your HVAC system. Some cheaper systems will not be able to use a high-quality filter.
Exercising is very important to your health, it can increase your energy, give you a healthy heart, and make you look better. It only makes sense to have the best air quality when you exercise. Watching where and when you work out and changing your filters regularly can help you breathe the highest air quality possible.