The federal government is hoping to make it easier for Canadians to evaluate air quality and plan activities accordingly, cutting down on the number of deaths related to air pollution. It recently announced the addition of a number of southern Ontario cities to the urban Toronto area and the BC Interior towns already closely monitored by Canada's Air Quality Health Index.
Age and chronic lung or heart problems are extra risk factors identified at airhealth.ca.
People with existing conditions. Canadians who have existing respiratory illnesses including chronic bronchitis, emphysema (and in some cases asthma), or lung cancer, and those with cardiovascular conditions such as angina, previous heart attack, congestive heart failure or heart rhythm problems, are sensitive to air pollution, says airhealth.ca. Air pollution makes it even harder for people to breathe and can make existing lung or heart-related symptoms worse. For example, it can trigger heart attacks.
The elderly. Older Canadians also are more likely to be affected by air pollution, perhaps due to generally weaker defence systems, or undiagnosed respiratory or cardiovascular health conditions.
PEOPLE WITH EXISTING ILLNESSES
People with asthma or COPD may notice an increase in coughs, wheezing, shortness of breath or phlegm.
People with heart failure may experience increased shortness of breath or swelling in the ankles and feet.
People with heart rhythm problems may notice increased fluttering in the chest and feeling light-headed.
People with angina or coronary artery disease may have an increase in chest or arm pain.
- From airhealth.ca, adapted from the sensitivity guide developed by the New Brunswick Lung Association
