Delhi-NCR’s air quality has become a major health hazard, with Air Quality Index (AQI) levels recently spiking to dangerous levels. As the winter season sets in, air pollution in the region continues to worsen due to smog. This increase in pollution levels raises pressing concerns, particularly for people with outdoor exercise routines like morning walks.
Many are left wondering whether it's safe to continue outdoor activities as exposure to the air can pose serious health risks impacting respiratory and cardiovascular health. Engaging in outdoor physical activities like walking or jogging can increase the amount of polluted air inhaled, increasing the negative effects of pollutants. When we exercise, our breathing rate and depth increase, meaning more air—and therefore more pollutants—enters the lungs.
For people with respiratory problems, high-intensity outdoor activity can aggravate symptoms, leading to coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and other respiratory complications. Further, long-term exposure to poor air quality can contribute to chronic respiratory and heart issues, increasing the risk of lung infections, strokes, and even premature death. Is It Safe To Go For Morning Walks?Outdoor exercise, especially activities like brisk walking, leads to heavier breathing, which increases the intake of polluted air directly into the lungs.
As a result, people are at higher risk of inhaling harmful particles. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), prolon.