When winter pollution spikes and the Air Quality Index (AQI) inches past 200, the debate resurfaces each year: Is it still safe to get your workout outdoors? While a morning run or an intense cycling session feels like discipline, it may also be exposing your lungs to more harm than benefit. High-intensity workouts dramatically increase the volume of air you inhale, and when that air is polluted, the impact can be deeper, faster, and more dangerous than most people realise.

Pulmonologists agree that the real problem begins the moment your breathing intensifies, allowing particulate matter to travel farther into your respiratory system. And when the AQI slips into the ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ category, your lungs aren’t equipped to handle the toxic load.

Why High AQI Makes Outdoor Workouts R

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