Jogging is extremely beneficial for health. Health experts advise that everyone should walk or jog at least 30 minutes a day based on their capacity to keep lifestyle diseases away and stay fit. However, when you are living in a highly polluted city like New Delhi, jogging can be problematic as you start inhaling faster and since the air around is polluted it can affect your lungs or overall health in the long run.
But that does not mean you should stop jogging.
Dos for jogging in a polluted city
- Always check the AQI of your city before stepping out for jogging.
- Avoid jogging during peak traffic hours during which the levels of pollution are expected to be the highest. Try to jog during early morning and late evening hours.
- You can wear a mask while jogging to cut down your exposure to the hazardous pollutants present in the air.
- Stay hydrated all through the day and drink adequate water both before and after jogging as the polluted air has a tendency to irritate your respiratory system.
- Pollution tends to increase complications for people with existing respiratory problems. Hence if you feel discomfort or difficulty while breathing stop jogging.
- If you feel congestion in your chest, allergies or cough stop jogging until the quality of air in your city improves.
Don’ts for jogging in a polluted city
- Avoid jogging near industrial areas, highways, and roads with heavy traffic because the pollution levels in these areas are high since vehicle transition in these parts is much higher as compared to other parts of the city.
- Haze or smog in the air is an indication that the surrounding air is highly polluted. In such a situation avoid jogging in the outdoors and instead you must choose to exercise indoors.
- Avoid loose-fitting clothes as pollutants and irritants might get trapped against your skin and they can easily enter your body.
- Take a shower after jogging to remove all the pollutants on your hair and skin.