Your City Could Be Hurting Your Health And Your Fitness Avid Outdoor Fitness Participants Beware… Is Your City Causing More Harm Than Good? Taylor Ryan, NASM C-PT

Lion and Tigers and… Smog OH MY! It is probably something that you don’t often think about… but maybe that should change. It’s no surprise that the earth is becoming an unhealthier place to live… filled with pollutants, hydrocarbons, viruses, rising temperatures, etc. Now those dangers are starting to affect our daily lives and hobbies!

It is probably something that you don’t often think about… but maybe that should change. It’s no surprise that the earth is becoming an unhealthier place to live… filled with pollutants, hydrocarbons, viruses, rising temperatures, etc.

Now those dangers are starting to affect our daily lives and hobbies!

What’s Going On In The World Pollution and smog continue to increase worldwide… causing some cities to have smog alerts and warning residents of potential threats High smog means health hazards can occur from outside activities!

Pollution and smog continue to increase worldwide… causing some cities to have smog alerts and warning residents of potential threats

High smog means health hazards can occur from outside activities!

Why Lock Yourself Up? Avid outdoor lovers are working up a sweat and breathing harder. You can take in more than 7x your normal oxygen intake during exercise. But … in these smog infested places it isn’t just oxygen you are getting in your lungs… we’re talking smog, hydrocarbons… nasty stuff!

Avid outdoor lovers are working up a sweat and breathing harder. You can take in more than 7x your normal oxygen intake during exercise.

But … in these smog infested places it isn’t just oxygen you are getting in your lungs… we’re talking smog, hydrocarbons… nasty stuff!

Pollution Does What To Athletes? Big and small particles of pollutants can be inhaled during these high smog days that can harm even the healthiest and most active people. Some can cause problems to breathing and energy while other pollutants can do even more. There is research that shows hydrocarbons to cause tumor growth. Smoke can cause lung irritation, inflammation, throat irritation, etc. It’s sad to say that some cities experience days where it is recommended to avoid being outside as much as possible!

Big and small particles of pollutants can be inhaled during these high smog days that can harm even the healthiest and most active people. Some can cause problems to breathing and energy while other pollutants can do even more. There is research that shows hydrocarbons to cause tumor growth. Smoke can cause lung irritation, inflammation, throat irritation, etc.

It’s sad to say that some cities experience days where it is recommended to avoid being outside as much as possible!

Where Does Your City Fall? According to the American Lung Association here are the top 10 polluted cities of 2008: 1) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 2) Los Angeles, California 3) Fresno/Madera, California 4) Bakersfield, California 5) Birmingham, Alabama 6) Logan, Utah 7) Salt Lake City, Utah 8) Sacramento, California 9) Detroit, Michigan 10) Baltimore, Maryland / Washington, D.C.

According to the American Lung Association here are the top 10 polluted cities of 2008:

1) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

2) Los Angeles, California

3) Fresno/Madera, California

4) Bakersfield, California

5) Birmingham, Alabama

6) Logan, Utah

7) Salt Lake City, Utah

8) Sacramento, California

9) Detroit, Michigan

10) Baltimore, Maryland / Washington, D.C.

What If You Live In Pollution Land? If you live in a high polluted area make sure to check for warnings each day to make sure the levels are in a tolerable zone. You should also workout first thing in the morning as pollutants increase with heat, traffic and the busy hustle and bustle of the day.

If you live in a high polluted area make sure to check for warnings each day to make sure the levels are in a tolerable zone.

You should also workout first thing in the morning as pollutants increase with heat, traffic and the busy hustle and bustle of the day.

I’m On A Soapbox… The planet is not going to fix itself over night and our unhealthy way of life is slow to evolve, so the best we can do is take care of us and try our best to live green. We are only going to turn over what we have done to this planet when we as an entire culture move in a green direction.

The planet is not going to fix itself over night and our unhealthy way of life is slow to evolve, so the best we can do is take care of us and try our best to live green. We are only going to turn over what we have done to this planet when we as an entire culture move in a green direction.

For more from Taylor Ryan, NASM C-PT head to http://www/fitness-analyzer.com Image from: http://www.the-environmentalist.org/2008_03_01_archive.html