How Air Quality Affects Professional Athletes
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1 min read
As the 2024 Olympic games approach, we thought it’d be interesting to look at how air quality affects professional athletes.
Air Quality & Our Health
It’s common knowledge that air quality affects our health. Airborne pollutants can cause sneezing, itching, congestion, and headaches. According to the EPA, long-term exposure to indoor air pollution may also lead to respiratory and heart diseases.
Our vulnerability to poor air quality can increase when we exercise. When our bodies move, oxygen is sent to our working skeletal muscles, a vital process that keeps us alive and helps us endure strenuous activity.
Air Quality & Olympic Athletes
It’s possible that professional athletes may struggle with respiratory problems due to years of vigorous training for their sport. Asthma is especially common in elite athletes and has been reported to affect 25–79% of athletes in endurance sports, and 20% of athletes in power and speed sports.
With those statistics, it’s no surprise that air quality comes into question during the Olympic games. To prepare for the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing, China reduced private traffic by 50% and temporarily disbanded 70% of government vehicles to reduce pollution caused by car exhaust. They also closed chemical building plants in an effort to minimize local pollution and improve air quality.
This summer, France has partnered with Aerophile to install giant air purifiers around the village where Olympic athletes will stay. These air purifiers are reported to filter 95% of fine particles and use vertical downward jets to create “showers of clean air”. If all goes well, France may even install these mushroom-like air purifiers across Paris to help improve the city’s air quality.
Steps for At-Home Athletes
Even though most of us aren’t Olympic athletes, air quality is still important, especially during exercise. Here are some steps you can take to create an ideal workout environment:
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers are an easy and effective way to help you take control of your indoor air quality. Our helpful sidekick: The Levoit Vital 200S Smart Air Purifier is perfect for freshening up living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. Equipped with enhanced 3-stage filtration, smart control, and customizable scheduling, you can enter any season with confidence in your home’s air quality.
Fresh Air On-the-Go
Planning to stay in shape while travelling? Here’s how to take fresh air with you. Our (smaller) helpful sidekick: The Levoit Core Mini Air Purifier is easily portable and perfect for small rooms. Plus, it has a built-in aroma pad for your favorite essential oils.
Monitor Local Air Quality
Keep tabs on your local air quality to know when you should keep windows closed, avoid outdoor workouts, and run your air purifier on a higher fan speed.
Important Note
The information provided here is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be used in medical emergencies or for diagnosing or treating any medical condition. It's crucial to consult a licensed medical professional for diagnosis and treatment. External links are for informational purposes and do not constitute endorsements. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the products and/or the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of the information provided herein.
Sources
Introduction to Indoor Air Quality | US EPA
Airway hyperresponsiveness in elite athletes - PubMed (nih.gov)
Paris 2024 Olympics: Aérophile’s Giant Air Purifiers Can Suck Pollution - DirectIndustry e-Magazine
