Next week is Air Quality Awareness Week, which highlights the many ways that air quality can affect your health. According to epa.gov, this year’s theme is Show How You Care About the Air.
Air quality is critical to daily well being – like water to a fish, it’s invisible and taken for granted, until we don’t get enough of the good stuff. Then we feel it immediately.
Air pollution comes mainly from human activities like fossil fuel emission, which is the result of manufacturing and transportation. Pollutants like smog, sulfates, nitrates and carbon also have a significant impact on health.
1) Eyes, Nose and Throat Irritations
Whether or not you have asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions, enough exposure to dust and pollutants can cause sore throats, watery eyes, and nasal irritation. If these symptoms are common for you around a home or work area with construction, chemical fumes, or similar pollutants, consider wearing a mask over your nose and mouth while outdoors, or seek areas where less pollution is present.
2) Shortness of Breath
Increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing can be common symptoms of poor air quality. Be sure to consult a medical professional if you experience these symptoms, particularly if you have no previous respiratory history.
3) Aggravated Asthma
Unsurprisingly, poor air quality can aggravate the symptoms of people with asthma or other respiratory conditions like emphysema. Chronic bronchitis or chronic respiratory diseases in children can also form from long exposures to polluted air. If you experience chest pains, asthma attacks, or consistent coughing, it’s important that you seek medical attention, such as from your regular doctor or a nearby urgent care.
4) Heart and Cardiovascular Problems
Those with heart conditions should avoid polluted and low-quality air as much as possible. Poor air quality has been associated with increased risks of heart attacks and arrhythmias in people with such conditions.
Are you concerned about how air quality may be affecting your health? Come down to your local urgent care center at our Fountain Valley, Irvine urgent care or Costa Mesa urgent care facilities. Be sure to schedule an appointment online with us first!
Dr. Bunten is originally from Huntington Beach, CA. He attended high school in Tokyo, Japan, went to college at UC San Diego and then to medical school in the Midwest. He returned home to California for residency training in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. His immediate family all reside in Huntington Beach.
Dr Fishbein has been in the practice of family medicine for over 35 years in Irvine. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, medical degree from Chicago Medical School, and completed his family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital of Long Beach.
Dr. Kim is the Medical Director of Family Care Centers, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Hoag Hospital, and a recipient of the Physicians of Excellence award from the Orange County Medical Association. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, and has been practicing in our community for over 20 years.
Dr. Memon is a board certified Family Medicine physician and recently completed her fellowship in Geriatrics at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. She attended Saint George’s University, School of Medicine and completed her residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Her interest in medicine started at an early age and has since evolved into a passionate career.
Dr. Gina Nguyen obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Irvine where she graduated Suma Cum Laude. She went to USC Keck School of Medicine, and returned to UC Irvine for a Family Medicine Residency. Since 2005, she worked at Kaiser Permanente, VNCOC, and Family Care Center Urgent Care.
Dr. Williams is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He is a native to Orange County and returned home after completing his medical degree at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. After completing his residency in family practice he successfully completed a fellowship in sports medicine.
Dr. Hye Lee is a board-certified Family Practice Physician, affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice.She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Riverside and earned her medical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. Afterward, she did her internship at Downey Regional Medical Center in California and has been a primary care physician since 2005.
Dr. Coyne is a board certified family practice physician and a California native. He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA before earning his medical degree at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr Coyne spent 6 years in the US Air Force at Andrews and Luke Air Force bases, eventually separating as a Major. He enjoys working with patients of all ages.”
Dr. Jay Friehling is a Family Practice physician who has worked in Orange County since 1981. Born in Florida, he received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and then earned a Medical Degree at the New York Medical College.” His healthcare interests include Diabetes, Geriatric Care, and Hospice Care.
Dr. Jennifer Shoquist is board certified in Family Medicine. Her special interest is woman’s health and her practice accepts patients from 6 years old to seniors. Dr. Shoquist received her M.D. degree at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston in Houston, Texas, and did her residency with Memorial Family Practice at memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Tom is a board certified family medicine physician and native Californian. He received his bachelors of science with great distinction in biochemistry and honors in chemistry. Dr. Tom was awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend medical school at UC Irvine.
Dr. Yan attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her Family Practice residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. She joined Family Care Center in 2001. She chose Family Practice because she enjoys working with a wide variety of people and because it provides a unique opportunity for continuing care.
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