Health Experts: Colorado's Hazy Skies Hit Athletes The Hardest
DENVER (CBS4)- The Front Range is under a health advisory through Saturday morning as smoke from wildfires on the Pacific coast create hazy skies over Colorado. The poor air quality is impacting thousands with breathing challenges and athletes the most.
Health officials say people with respiratory issues should stay inside on days where the skies are hazy and visibility is below five miles. They say that is a good indicator the air quality is not good.
Joanne Stroud lives in the Denver metro area and doesn't have allergies or a cold but she's been coughing like she has one for about a week.
"I didn't have it before, it just really came on quickly," said Stroud.
The coughing started when it started getting hard to see the mountains to the west of the city. A thick haze from wildfires burning in the Pacific Northwest has impacted everyday life more than 1,000 miles away.
"I couldn't figure out what it was and I was talking to a friend and she said it might be from the wildfires," said Stroud.
"Even if you don't have chronic breathing problems it can be irritating. Usually it's only temporary but you can get temporary burning, itching, eyes, nose, mouth, that sort of thing," said Dr. David Beuther with National Jewish Health.
Although the smoke has made for some incredible pictures, brilliant sunsets and sunrises have set the sky on fire through the haze, it's impacting nearly everyone who sees those vibrant colors.
Beuther said the effects will hit athletes the hardest. Running, playing basketball, any sport played outside could be harder and may be inadvisable. The conditions could affect the outcome of the USA Pro Challenge where cyclists are working hard to breathe and cross that finish line.
"For our patients that have chronic breathing problems like asthma or allergies, they probably should stay indoors on days like today," said Beuther.
He said the conditions should start getting better by Monday.
