Breathe Easy: The Importance of Clean Air for People Living with Chronic Lung Disease

This post was written by: Ashley Medina Tallyn, MHA, RRT.

Breathing clean air is important for everyone, especially those living with a chronic lung disease. The quality of air you breathe can significantly impact your health and well-being. Knowing the importance of clean air can make a big difference in how you feel and live.

Breathing in clean air:

• Reduces Symptoms

  Clean air can help reduce COPD symptoms, like coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. When air is clean, it's easier to breathe.

• Improves Lung Function

  Cleaner air means fewer bad particles, like smoke, dust, and pollen, getting into your lungs. These tiny particles can cause irritation. By breathing cleaner air, you can keep your lungs healthier.

• Ensures Safer Indoor Air

  It is important to keep your home free from dust, mold, and other pollutants that can make your indoor air unsafe and cause breathing problems. Using medical-grade air purifiers can help make the air inside your home cleaner by killing harmful pathogens. Regularly cleaning your home and using a dehumidifier can also help keep the air clean and safe.

• Encourages Healthier Outdoor Activities

  Outdoor air quality can change due to the weather and pollution. It is helpful to get into the habit of checking air quality reports before going outside. On days with high pollution, it is best to avoid outdoor activities to protect your lungs. When the air quality is good, spending time outside can boost your mood and overall health.

What can affect air quality?

Many things can impact the quality of air we breathe, which is especially important for people living with chronic lung diseases like COPD. Knowing what these things are can help you avoid them and keep your lungs healthier. Here are some common factors to watch out for:

• Wildfires

  Wildfires produce a lot of smoke, which has small particles and gases that can get deep into your lungs. Breathing in wildfire smoke can make symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath worse for people with lung problems.

• Secondhand Smoke

  Breathing in smoke from someone else's cigarette can be just as harmful as smoking. The chemicals in cigarette smoke can irritate your lungs and make breathing symptoms worse.

• Wood Smoke

  Smoke from burning wood in a fireplace or a wood stove can release harmful particles into the air. These particles can get into your lungs and cause breathing problems, especially for those with chronic lung conditions.

• Pollen

  Pollen from trees, grasses, and plants can trigger allergies and breathing problems. For people with asthma or COPD, high pollen levels can make it harder to breathe.

• Mold

  Mold grows in damp places and can release spores into the air. Breathing in these mold spores can irritate your lungs and make you sick. Keeping your home dry and mold-free can help protect your lungs.

• Household Chemicals

  Many cleaning products, air fresheners, paints, and glues have strong smells and can release chemicals that irritate your lungs. Using these products too much or without proper ventilation can make breathing harder. Keeping your home well-ventilated when using these products can help protect your lungs.

• Gas Appliances

  Gas stoves, heaters, and water heaters can release harmful gases. Make sure these appliances are well-maintained and properly vented.

Understanding the importance of clean air, both indoor and outdoor, and taking steps to keep your home clean, can help you live a happier, healthier life. Breathe easy and take control of your lung health today!

The COPD Foundation's Clean Air series is by Clean Air Dynamics.