Smog is a hot topic nationwide. For weight-loss enthusiasts and fitness lovers, whether exercising during smoggy days is advisable and the potential risks warrant attention. Experts recommend halting all physical activities during smog, including park workouts and indoor exercise. Let's examine if exercising in smoggy weather is suitable.
Risks of Exercising in Smoggy Conditions
Smog significantly weakens respiratory defenses and lung function. Regular exercisers should avoid outdoor running or walking and refrain from cardio-respiratory activities like high-intensity running. During strenuous exercise, accelerated and deeper breathing causes the body to inhale several times more pollutants than usual.
Certain pollutants become more toxic when combined with moisture. For instance, sulfur dioxide transforms into sulfuric acid or sulfides; chlorine hydrolyzes into hydrochloric acid or hypochlorous acid; and fluorides hydrolyze into hydrogen fluoride. Consequently, air pollution during smoggy days is significantly worse than usual. Additionally, exercising in hazy conditions may trigger cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases.
Is the air better in parks during hazy days?
No! When PM2.5 levels are critically high, plants' adsorption capacity is negligible. Only strong winds or heavy rain can disperse or wash away airborne haze particles—park vegetation cannot achieve this.
Is exercising indoors safer?
The answer is no. Air is constantly moving, and during severe smog, indoor PM2.5 levels are not significantly lower than outdoors. Unless you have a high-quality air purifier and keep doors and windows tightly closed.
Even on non-smoggy days, avoid exercising along roadsides.
Many runners choose to jog along roadsides for exercise, but this isn't very healthy. Because.Modern urban roads are constantly busy with traffic, easily kicking up dust. Running along the roadside means inhaling more harmful gases and particles, which actually increases the risk of injury to your body while exercising. Therefore, whether running or working out, it's best to choose quiet and clean places like sports fields or parks.
Does skipping exercise for a few days affect results?
Some people have made exercise a habit and worry that skipping it for a day or two will impact their progress.
This is not necessarily true. Generally, for regular exercisers, the benefits gained—such as reduced resting heart rate, lower blood pressure, and improved metabolism—take about two weeks to gradually diminish after stopping. This means skipping a day or two, or even a week, needn't cause undue concern. Remember, reasonable rest is just as important as exercise. Harmful exercise does more harm than good—it's better not to exercise at all.