Is the Air Quality in the Northeast Giving You a Headache? You’re Not Alone

Michael Rubino was a featured expert in an article at Vogue to discuss how poor outdoor air quality can impact health.

Whether you call the northeastern United States home or are just active on social media, you’re likely aware of the smoke. Cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore are currently filled with settled smoke, a sepia-toned byproduct of the rampant wildfires currently affecting Canada. For residents, the affected air quality (which as of Wednesday was measured at 14.5 times the World Health Organization’s air-quality-guideline value) is leading to symptoms induced by both the actual conditions and the stress of the situation—including some severe headaches. 

“If you’re experiencing stress, especially new stress for the air quality where you live, there is a strong likelihood that any new onset headaches are likely stemming from the stress and the inhalation of the smoke from the wildfires,” says Doug Laher, Chief Operating Officer of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), who notes that elevated heart rate and increased blood pressure team to increase headache potential. “The current concentration of smoke and the unprecedented amount of airborne particles present at this time are toxic and can cause even the healthiest individual to feel unwell,” adds indoor air quality expert Michael Rubino. Exposure to poor air quality can cause sinus inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which lead to headaches.

Read the full article here:  https://www.vogue.com/article/smoke-air-headache-wildfires-northeast