Going Outside in Unhealthy Air: Symptoms and Safety Tips

You may develop a scratchy throat, cough, headache, or shortness of breath, especially if you walk quickly, exercise, or spend a long time outside. Children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with heart or lung conditions may be more affected, but unhealthy air can cause symptoms in anyone.

Check the product’s listed specifications when evaluating what you might notice outdoors.

On the U.S. Air Quality Index, “Unhealthy” means an AQI of 151–200: people in sensitive groups may have more serious effects, while others may begin to feel effects too. The number is a guide rather than a safe-time limit, so use the current local reading alongside your symptoms and any advice from your health care professional.

If you can, postpone strenuous outdoor activity, take a shorter or less demanding route, and move plans indoors until conditions improve. For particle pollution such as wildfire smoke, a well-fitting N95 can reduce the particles you breathe while outside, but it does not protect against gases such as ozone or carbon monoxide.

Close windows when outdoor air is worse, avoid adding indoor smoke or strong fumes, and use appropriate filtration if it is available to you. Our team’s featured product, Breathe Better Indoors, Live Better: A Practical Guide to Improving Indoor Air Quality, offers a starting point for thinking through indoor air quality room by room; you can also read our room-by-room air quality guide.