3 Surprising Effects Air Pollution Has on Your Body

The air pollution crisis is ongoing, and with more than 92% of the world’s population living in areas that exceed the levels deemed safe by the World Health Organization (WHO), the issue is a global one. 

While it’s common knowledge that poor air quality is damaging for both humans and the environment (and often the cause of potentially fatal conditions such as lung disease, heart disease and strokes), the same culprit is sometimes responsible for other, lesser-known health and behavioural problems.

Here, we reveal the unexpected medical issues that can occur as a result of polluted air.

Bad behaviour

Is your teen acting up more than usual? Do you live in an urban area that’s known for poor air quality? It’s entirely possible that the young adults in your house are showing bad behaviour as a result of worsening air quality. No, really.

A study featured in The Times found that unhealthy air causes bad behaviour in children and teens. Researchers have reported that young people residing in areas of poorer air quality would start to show signs of bad behaviour upon reaching adolescence. 

Irregular periods

Recent findings have indicated that air pollution can wreak havoc with female hormones, and thus cause irregular menstrual cycles – in teenage girls aged 14 to 18 especially. A new study has indicated that teen girls exposed to contaminated air will have a higher chance of menstrual irregularity, and will likely have a long wait to achieve a more stable cycle.

Author of the study, Shruthi Mahalingaiah, explained the research in more details in a story published by Science Daily. “While air pollution exposures have been linked to cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, this study suggests there may be other systems, such as the reproductive endocrine system, that are affected as well,” she revealed.

Poor mental health

The impact of air pollution on the human body is also evident when it comes to mental health. A recent study carried out in Hong Kong had some shocking findings – poor air doesn’t just make those with mental health issues worse, but actually increases their risk of mortality.

Having analysed 10 years’ worth of data, researchers noted a strong link between smog and mortality in a story featured in The Guardian. The risk of death rose by 16% on the first day of haze, and on the 27% on the second day in comparison with normal days. In addition to this, on days when ozone pollution was present alongside the smog, the risk of death shot up by a staggering 79%.

Image courtesy of Daria Nepriakhina, Unsplash

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5 Asthma Triggers You Probably Didn’t Know About

Asthma can be extremely disruptive when it comes to your everyday life. Affecting the airways, asthma can cause shortness of breath, discomfort and panic.

While asthma can occur as a result of pollution, intense exercise or respiratory infection, it can also be triggered by a number of lesser-known factors, most of which might surprise you.

Below, five of the lesser-known culprits behind your asthma attacks.

Indoor environment

The conditions in which you live play a significant role when it comes to your health. A build-up of dust in your bedroom, living area or attic can bring on your symptoms, and mold or damp in your bathroom can also have a serious impact. If you’re into DIY, take care when handling and storing paint, glue and varnishes, even if they’re in the garage.

Second-hand smoke

It goes without saying that cigarettes are hazardous to your health, and it’s common knowledge that smoking can cause serious lung damage. According to Asthma UK, around 82% of people suffering with the condition find that tobacco smoke affects their asthma. However, you don’t need to be a smoker to feel the effects - the chemicals in cigarette smoke cause irritation and inflammation of the lungs and airways.

Emotions

Our emotions can really toy with our asthma symptoms. Perhaps your asthma has previously been triggered by laughing at a friend’s joke (read: misfortune), or by crying while watching an especially sad scene in a movie – you may want to avoid The Light Between Oceans if you have asthma and a tendency to cry. In fact, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) both reported a link between laughter and asthma, so you don’t necessarily need to be sad to feel the effects.

Alcohol

Did you know that the glass of wine you indulged in last night may have affected your asthma? Probably not. However, according to a survey by Asthma UK, 64% of sufferers claim that certain alcoholic drinks trigger their symptoms. Red wine was the primary offender, with beer and cider not far behind. If you’ve noticed a correlation between certain alcoholic drinks and the worsening of your symptoms, it’s best to avoid them altogether.

Stress and anxiety

Asthma UK has revealed that 69% of asthma sufferers reported that feelings of stress and anxiety can bring on their symptoms. When stressed, our bodies release extra hormones - and we react with tense muscles, faster breathing and a quickened heart rate, all of which can contribute to worsened asthma symptoms. To minimize the impact stress and anxiety can have on your asthma symptoms, make sure you’re managing your condition well – stay healthy, take your meds and speak to your doctor if you’re feeling more stressed than usual.

To stay ahead of your asthma and allergy outbreaks, the Sensio AIR team recommends regular visits to your GP, careful use of medication and the use of an at-home air quality monitor.

The Sensio AIR device will be available to buy soon, but you can manage your symptoms in the meantime by downloading the app. iPhone users can get it here, and Android owners can download it here.

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Image courtesy of Jill Wellington, Pixabay