Pelican State News

• As of last year, reports have shown that more than one-third of Americans live in areas with poor air quality.
• With the Canadian wildfires affecting the U.S. throughout the summer, it's likely that your breathing has been affected.
• If you suffer from asthma or other sinus issues, seeking treatment from a sinus specialist can help to reduce issues that could be triggered by bad air quality.

With the air quality in the U.S. on the decline, millions of Americans have had to deal with the health risks that come along with that. Dr. Gregory Pippin of ENT & Allergy of New Orleans said that not being able to breathe well through your nose can lead to other types of medical issues.

"Nobody wants to feel drained and fatigued all the time, so nasal health is very, very important," Pippin told Pelican State News. "If you're not able to breathe through your nose, you're not able to exercise. It makes it difficult to sleep. It really is the gatekeeper for a lot of medical conditions."

According to the American Lung Association’s “State of the Air'' 2023 report, 36% of Americans live in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone pollution. This equates to more than 119.6 million people. Another area of concern is deadly particulate matter pollution, which consists of dust, ash, soot and metals. For this, the report showed 63.7 million people living in counties affected, which is the highest number ever reported.

It's no secret that wildfires have been an issue affecting multiple countries around the world lately, and a 2022 report by the UN Environment Programme, cited by CNN, stated that the number of extreme wildfire events could increase by up to 14% by 2030. It's expected to increase up to 30% by 2050.

Most recently, Canada has had the worst wildfire season on record due to rising temperatures and dry conditions, according to National Public Radio. This has also affected many areas of the U.S., causing air quality to decline. They also added that this unfortunate wildfire season isn't expected to end anytime soon, as it normally lasts until October.

Although bad air quality conditions aren't good for anyone, they could be especially troublesome for people who struggle with asthma and other sinus issues, and make these problems worse through nasal inflammation. According to the American Sinus Institute, nasal inflammation, or sinusitis, is described as swelling of the tissue that lines the sinuses. This blocks the nasal air passageways and causes mucus to increase, potentially causing an infection.

If you're prone to any of these issues, seeking treatment from a sinus specialist can help. To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis or allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.