SC Connecticut 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 the decline, millions of Americans have had to deal with the health risks that come along with that, and sinusitis sufferers may have to deal with more symptoms than usual. Dr. Robert Weiss of CT ENT Sinus Center said it's important to see a specialist for treatment if you struggle with sinus issues, because there's always a potential improvement for your condition.

"If you have allergies or sinus or nasal problems, don't accept them as status quo," Weiss told SC Connecticut News. "Get to an appropriate specialist who is very experienced in these areas and look into what can be done to help, because a lot of times, there are things that can be done and they're relatively easy to get done. And they can have a high impact on your symptoms and your quality of life."

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 area of concern 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 is the highest number 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 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., causing air quality to decline. 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, making 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. They mention that 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.