Air Pollution impact on heart

[Jerry D]

I had an aortic valve replacement in May 2018. Bovine from Edwards Life Sciences. I have resumed a very active lifestyle, racing outrigger canoes, hiking and biking. For the past three weeks the air quality in Southern California has been very bad, most days in the unhealthy to very unhealthy range (orange to red, and even purple a couple of times!) We have an air purifier running in the house and doors and windows closed with the air conditioner on. If I go out, my wife and I always wear a mask, even in the car. Still, there are days in which I feel as if my heart and lungs are laboring. My blood pressure is okay. Does anyone have experience in bad air quality? Ozone is high as well as particulate matter, although particulates are finally receding because th big Bobcat fire is finally under control.