Air pollution

Where you live can have a significant impact on your sinus health. Whether the city you live in has good or poor air quality can make all the difference in the world to your breathing, lung and sinus health and countless other issues.

When air quality drops due to pollution, sinus problems increase. People often experience an increase in congestion, sinus pain, allergy symptoms, sinus headaches, sinusitis and other chronic sinus problems. What are the main culprits that create air pollution and impact our sinus health? The chief pollutants include:

  • Carbon monoxide
  • Particulate concentration (visible air pollution)
  • Sulfur dioxide
  • Nitrogen oxide

Sources of these pollutants include the exhaust from internal combustion engines (such as vehicles, portable and back-up generators and lawn mowers), as well as the improper burning of wood, coal, charcoal, oil, paraffin, propane, natural gas and trash.

Let’s take a look at what cities the American Lung Association rates as having the worst air quality, in their 2011 State of the Air Report, due to high concentrations of particulate matter:

  • Bakersfield, CA
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Phoenix, AZ
  • Visalia, CA
  • Hanford, CA
  • Fresno, CA
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Birmingham, AL
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Louisville, KY
  • Modesto, CA

Now let’s take a look at the US cities which are rated to have the best air quality according to the American Lung Association with the potential to enhance your sinus health:

  • Cheyenne, WY
  • Santa Fe, NM
  • Tucson, AZ
  • Great Falls, MT
  • Honolulu, HI
  • Anchorage, AK
  • Albuquerque, NM
  • Amarillo, TX
  • Redding, CA
  • Salinas, CA

According to the 2011 State of the Air Report by the American Lung Association, great strides have been made to reduce air pollution in the United States in recent decades. However, despite the progress, 154 million people are subjected daily to air that is dangerous to breathe. If you are living in a city that has high air pollution, it is important to use your neti pot regularly. Nasal rinsing can assist your body in clearing the extra toxin load and support your overall health.

sinus rinse