Upper West SC 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 a decline, millions of Americans have had to deal with the health risks that come along with that. Dr. Andy Wells of Columbia Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said if you're not breathing well through your nose, other aspects of your health could be affected.

"We have to emphasize the impact that chronic sinusitis and nasal blockage have on quality of life," Wells told Upper West SC News. "Studies show that sinusitis patients have a worse quality of life than patients with Parkinson's [disease], heart disease or chronic lung disease. Also, up to 25% of sinusitis patients suffer from depression. Most people just don't realize how debilitating chronic sinus problems can be, so to be able to help those folks and see how happy they are when they're feeling better, it's very rewarding — especially because we can provide these solutions and simple treatments right in the office."

The American Lung Association’s “State of the Air'' 2023 report noted that 36% of Americans live in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone pollution. This equates to more than 119.6 million people. Another issue that’s listed 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 has been the highest 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 by 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., making air quality go downhill. 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, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.