Poor Air Quality Causes Health Problems

Friday, July 21st 2006, 10:24 am

By: News On 6

If your allergies or asthma have been acting up in the last couple of days, you're not alone. According to environmentalists, Thursday, the air quality in Tulsa was the worst itâ€™s been in at least six years.

News on 6 reporter Jennifer Loren explains what we can do to protect our health on days like these.

Environmentalists say over all our air quality has been okay this summer. But it only takes one day like Thursday to impair our health. Allergy and asthma specialists say they have busy seasons. And this is one of them.

When our air quality suffers, people with respiratory conditions suffer as well. Dr. Mark Hamra with the Allergy and Asthma Center in Broken Arrow: "Well they could be complaining of increased nasal congestion, runny nose, coughing, watery scratchy eyes or they can have an increase in wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath."

Wednesday, they were suffering. That's in part because the air quality was the worst itâ€™s been in at least five years. Rhonda Jeffries with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality: "At least five years. Yeah we haven't seen that type of a number in a very long time. But we had humidity, low wind and we were just cooking."

It was humid, extremely hot and there was no wind. Mix those ingredients with our record drought. They say itâ€™s a recipe for bad air quality and everything that comes with it. "You see a lot more hospital admissions during these times, not just from the heat, but from the air pollution as well."

What can you do to avoid getting sick? Doctors say stay inside. Dr Mark Hamra: "Avoidance is always the best policy. So if they can be indoors that's always the best policy."

But even indoors, air quality can be bad. Thatâ€™s why allergists, among other things, suggest having your home's air ducts cleaned. Doing so reduces the dust mites and mold spores that build up in your home when itâ€™s humid. Frank Wewerka had his done on the advice of his wife's doctor. "So what are you hoping this does? Well help with her allergies I guess and cuts down on the dust in the house."

The doctor says there are some products you can try if you're suffering right now. There are dust mite-proof pillow and mattress covers and heppa and electrostatic filters for your home. But you should first consult your doctor.