Wellness Corner

If you're interested in health and wellness then there's a very good chance that you exercise regularly. That's a good thing, of course. But if you live in an urban area and you're doing your exercising outdoors, you may actually be diminishing your health rather than enhancing it. That's because the damage caused to the body as a result of air pollution may negate the benefits of exercise.

In particular, people who exercise outdoors in urban areas are likely to increase their chance of developing lung disease. The pollution in the air combined with the fact that you're breathing differently when you exercise contributes to the development and exacerbating of diseases of the lungs. Diseases of the heart are similarly heightened among people who exercise outdoors.

But what if you really hate to exercise inside? Some people loathe gyms and indoor exercise classes and find that the only way that they can stick to an exercise routine is to do something outdoors like bicycling or jogging. You still need to get that kind of exercise so you should just take precautions. Exercise in the morning when pollution levels are low, try to exercise in areas with less traffic congestion and be aware of the impact of pollution on your body.

Learn more about this important issue here.

Question of the Day: How do you weigh the pros and cons of exercising outdoors to develop a fitness routine that is good for your health?

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