Beauty from a Distance!
Like the rest of the world, the doctors, staff and even patients at the Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Specialists, have tuned into the world of sports. We are ending summer 2017 with Olympic glory with live transmissions from Rio, the 2016 Olympic City, Brazil.
Eyes of the World: On the Olympics
Each country, and each sports enthusiast claims favorites among the champions. We cheer with them in triumph and suffer with them in defeat. As they strive for gold, we are breathless with anticipation, and “breathless” is the keyword for today’s blog topic. Into the living rooms and hearts of families everywhere stream the live competitions of the elite athletes of the world, in Rio.
You see, it is normal for sports fans to be breathless with excitement. But it is not normal for the athletes to be competing for air as they compete in “a Brazilian city that suffers severe air pollution levels frequently exceeding the WHO limits.” EINPresswire.com
The lung specialists of the world have reported extensively in research studies on the effects of air pollution on lungs and the EPA has expressed concern.
“Inhalation of major air pollutants has been found to decrease lung function and exacerbate symptoms of exercise-induced bronchospasms, including coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.”
Health Experts and HVAC Agree: Rio Has Air Problems
Experts in the private sector have also expressed concern for the world’s athletes, saying that “athletes exposed to air pollution risk not only impaired performance, but
Breathless Moment: Golden Air Over Rio?
also face longer term health risks that exposure to polluted air brings.”
Meanwhile, much of the media focus has been on the condition of the water in Rio as opposed to the air.
Discover more about particulate matter in the air at this reliable resource of pollution data.
In Rio, a city where construction of the team living quarters is still in progress, FLASS wonders if there are any facilities “where rooms are purified by air purifiers…” These are especially designed filters “that efficiently remove the particle and chemical cocktails that build up in homes, offices and hotels.”
FLASS knows you can import water in bottles, but air is a far more difficult matter.
FLASS Message to Athletes and Spectators in Rio: Be Air Aware!
At FLASS, here in Orlando, FL, we are aware that the “U.S. Human Performance Resource Center has stated “inhaling high levels of particulates may reduce exercise performance by as much as 24.4% during short-term, high-intensity cycling, for example.”
This is not the big danger, however. Athletes are risking more than golden medals. They are risking health problems for the present and the future. As a result of their
Breathless Moments hurt our future in the Human Race!
exposure, they could endure:
- Damage to their airways,
- A Risk of asthma development,
- An increased deterioration of existing asthma,
- And Worsening of other lung conditions.
Ultimately the breathing of particulates in the Rio air could cause a greater risk of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. To put it simply, athletes and spectators could be increasing their risk for eventual heart attack and stroke. We do not give you this information to frighten you, but rather to make you aware that the problem exists.
In Part 2 of the FLASS coverage of this problem, we will bring you some personal solutions and cautions you can enact to help protect your lungs from the air pollution of any major metropolitan area, not just Brazil! Don’t miss our list of “do’s and don’ts” for unfriendly air situations!