Ontario’s doctors: What you need to know about smog

How does smog impact health?

• Smog affects patients with a range of cardiac and respiratory health problems.
  
  
• Smog increases the number of people affected by asthma, it increases the number of asthma attacks and makes them worse.
  
  
• Smog can cause relatively minor irritation of the eyes and throat.
  
  
• People with cardiac conditions such as heart failure and arterial sclerosis, or respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis are more vulnerable to smog.

Smog also has an impact on the health care system with increased visits to doctor’s offices and emergency departments, as well as hospital admissions.

OMA Smog-Wise health tips

• If you are aware of health conditions that make you, or those in your care, especially vulnerable to smog, it is important to educate yourself about how to reduce exposure;
  
  
• Air quality indexes should be used as indicators of health risk, but everyone’s healt h response is different. Do not assume that Low Risk or Good Air Quality forecasts mean that it is safe for all;
  
  
• Take a reasonable, but precautionary approach to reducing your exposure and protecting yourself from smog,  including limiting exertion on smoggy days;
  
  
• If you are concerned about smog’s impact on a pre-existing health condition (e.g., asthma, heart disease) or have other health concerns, talk to your physician.

Smog Myths and Medical Facts

Smog Myth:  If it’s smoggy, all sporting events and outdoor activities should be cancelled.

Medical Fact – In most cases the benefits of physical activity outweigh the dangers of smog for healthy adults and children alike. Use your common sense, monitor your activities and those of your family. Reduce your exertion, schedule rest breaks and stay hydrated, but pay special attention to those with pre-existing health conditions. Toning down outdoor activities may be appropriate in the smog, eliminating them altogether is seldom necessary.

Smog Myth:  If I’m healthy, I’m safe because smog only affects asthmatics.

Medical Fact – Smog affects everyone, however, children, seniors, people with pre-existing lung or heart conditions and people who work and exercise outdoors are more vulnerable. Although smog makes asthmatics and others with respiratory conditions ill every year, smog-related deaths are more often the result of cardiac causes than respiratory ones. This is of particular concern because many people with heart problems are often unaware of their condition.

Smog Myth:  Air conditioners can contribute to pollution, so everyone should turn theirs off.

Medical Fact - Although air conditioners can contribute to smog, they are also an important defence against the combined effects of heat, allergens and pollution. If you have a known cardiac or respiratory condition, or are suffering the effects of dirty air, getting into a cool, clean environment is recommended.

The Ontario Medical Association launched the OMA Smog-Wise Information Program in 2003 and continues to update this advice to its patients on how to protect themselves from smog’s ill effects. What follows are excerpts from the longer Smog-Wise documents with can be found on the OMA website at  www.oma.org/Health/smog

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact OMA Media Relations at 416-340-2862 or 1-800-268-7215 ext. 2862