Breathing is an automatic exercise we don’t think about enough.
Air quality is restorative for your lungs, and easily detrimental to your health. It just depends on what’s drifting through the atmosphere at the moment.
It’s harmattan season in my region, and once again, the air is annoyingly dry. It’s to countries along the Gulf of Guinea what winter is to the Western world.
While I love the excuse to wear sweaters and hide under my blanket for days, the accompanying dust is my mortal enemy.
I never knew exactly why I reacted badly to it. But the ColorOS Weather app on my phone has helped me make sense of it.
Air is just air until it isn’t
You really should grab a face mask on some days
One random day, I was exploring my phone and deciding which apps to keep.
I tapped the ColorOS Weather app and got carried away while using it. I mostly ignore such tracker apps because their predictions are questionable. They’ve failed me on multiple occasions.
Once, Google Weather told me to expect rain, and I wore heavy clothing to prepare for the cold. It didn’t, in fact, rain, and I found myself sweating under the heat. It was 38 degrees.
ColorOS Weather has consistent features worth paying attention to, courtesy of its connection with The Weather Channel.
It’s among the major global sources for meteorological data and the most accurate forecaster, in my book.
It has a dedicated app, but I prefer the former’s interface. It’s great that I have the same reliability presented with better aesthetics.
The air quality section caught my attention first. For days, it showed that the PM 2.5 levels in my region were consistently high.
The colorful circle was always stuck in orange or red. I don’t remember seeing a healthy rating. It bothered me, so I dug deeper.
I predict my day before I breathe it
It’s a proven way to keep allergies at bay
The Weather Channel integration in ColorOS Weather explains the PM2.5 matter in simple terms. I also did my research with ChatGPT and Google Search.
It means Particulate Matter that’s 2.5 micrometers or smaller. That’s not up to the full size of a human hair strand, so you can’t see it.
The matter travels straight into the deepest part of your lungs and bloodstream from dust and smoke fumes.
Although the unhealthy flag on the app makes it look dramatic, it doesn’t mean you’ll find yourself in the intensive care unit.
But it does mean that you’ll face the inconvenience of breathing through irritation, fatigue, sneezing fits, a scratchy throat, and other reactions.
In my case, it’s a constant cycle of nasal congestion, pink eye, and catarrh that makes the season feel twice as long.
Since learning these things from the app, I use it as part of my wellness suite.
In combination with the humidity, wind, and air pressure data, I get a fuller picture of why I feel the way I do on certain days.
I also catch my triggers before they take effect. For example, humidity levels are usually at 15% during harmattan, which is practically desert-dry.
Normally, it should be between 40% and 60%. The heat is around 36 to 38 degrees Celsius. These conditions irritate even the healthiest lungs.
I avoid unnecessary trips during those hours and use errand services. When outdoors, I don’t skip a face mask, and I have my water bottle close by to avoid dehydration.
My skin hates to see the sun coming
It’s why I now hide behind a screen
I used to think dark skin couldn’t get sunburns because melanin was its own built-in sunscreen. But it’s a myth.
Darker pigment only slows damage from UV rays. My favorite chemistry and science educators on YouTube have confirmed it.
Although I still struggle to wear sunscreen indoors, I always check the daily UV index on Weather. The sun’s radiation is at its peak between levels 6 and 7 during the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM.
It’s my cue to wear sunscreen and protect my skin outdoors.
When I run out of sunscreen, I switch to whatever physical barriers I can manage. That includes hats, long sleeves, an umbrella, or walking under shaded paths.
I’m also tracking the app’s visibility section. Never overestimate your eyesight in certain conditions, especially when driving.
I’m myopic, but on a bright, sunny day, I can still function without my glasses. Yet, I live close to a mountain. It’s hard to see outlines once the haze becomes stronger, especially in the mornings and evenings.
I carry my glasses when I go for walks, just in case. I’ve seen too many accidents this week to neglect it.
Weather life’s storms with the right companions
You’ll enjoy harsh seasons when you’re prepared for them.
If your harmattan or winter is ending soon, get ready to clear out the heavy skincare and switch to lighter formulas that won’t clog your pores in warmer months.
Restock sunscreen while you can and clean your dusty fans or air conditioners. You’ll need them.
More importantly, combine weather apps for better forecasts. No one is perfect at everything.
In particular, AccuWeather is effective at catching storms or temperature changes quickly, while Windy excels at live air movement and pollution maps. All of them are available on the Play Store.
