8/1/2008
FORT WORTH, TX – Dallas/Fort Worth has experienced several ozone alert days this summer and JPS physician Mark Koch, MD, is providing tips on how those especially vulnerable can take steps to protect their health.
Ground-level ozone, or smog, can cause coughing and wheezing and be especially hazardous to individuals with asthma and other respiratory ailments. When ozone is in the Level Red zone, people with asthma, adults over the age of 65, children, people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD – chronic bronchitis and emphysema), cardiovascular disease or diabetes should reduce outdoor activities and healthy people should limit strenuous outdoor work and exercise.
“Ozone can irritate your respiratory system, causing coughing, irritation in your throat or a burning sensation in your airways,” said Mark Koch, MD. “It can reduce lung function, so that you may have feelings of chest tightness, wheezing, or shortness of breath. Ozone can also aggravate asthma and trigger asthma attacks.”
Helpful tips for staying healthy during ozone alert days include:
- Stay indoors in a well-ventilated or air-conditioned building.If you must be active outdoors, try to schedule activity before 11 a.m. or after 8 p.m.
- Proper hydration and rest periods are recommended to avoid heat-related illnesses.
- Keep quick-relief medicine on hand when you’re active outdoors.
- Consult with your healthcare provider if you experience asthma symptoms on ozone alert days.
- Get up-to-date information on local air quality from air quality reports and local forecasts on television or the radio.
For more information or to speak with one of our physician experts, contact 817-927-1365.