How to keep an air quality and nasal symptoms diary

Copy the air quality diary

Use the source you would normally check for your area. Write whether the number was a forecast or a current or past reading. If you spent the afternoon somewhere else, record that area. If the reading was taken at a different time from your check-in, keep both times.

Keep UK and US readings in separate columns

UK. The Daily Air Quality Index uses a scale of 1 to 10 and bands from low to very high. For example, 5 is moderate on that scale. If you recorded a forecast, label it as one. UK DAQI health advice

US. AirNow uses the US AQI. For example, 75 is in the moderate category on the US scale. Record the pollutant, such as fine particles, if your source shows it. Write “US AQI 75, moderate” in full if you might later read the notes alongside UK data. AirNow AQI basics

The two numbers come from different scales. For a comparison, use the same service and location where possible. Use official advice if your area issues an alert.

Sources: UK DAQI health advice; AirNow AQI basics

What a comparison can look like

Monday and Tuesday share a forecast category, but the two days look different. Keep both. Thursday shows why air and symptoms need separate fields: one may be available when the other isn’t. The US row illustrates the format rather than adding a comparable number to the UK set.

Match the times before you compare

If a reading is labelled noon but the symptom began at 07:30, keep the gap visible. A forecast made the previous evening can still be useful, as long as it stays labelled as a forecast. The printable air quality log gives you separate spaces for the reading and check-in times.

• printable air quality log

Put smoke days in context

If there’s a wildfire smoke alert, follow official guidance first. Later you can add whether you were indoors or outdoors, what you noticed and which reading was available. A missed outdoor reading can stay blank. If you need current information, see the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map in the US or UK DAQI health advice and local alerts in the UK.

AirBloom is being built to show available local air quality alongside the symptoms you choose to record. Your own note about where you actually were still matters. It can distinguish a walk outside from a check-in made indoors on the same day.

If you’re also comparing pollen, use the pollen diary to keep pollen type and provider separate. After a week, pull out one day that fits your first impression and one that doesn’t. Both are worth keeping.

Sources: UK DAQI health advice; AirNow Fire and Smoke Map

• AirBloom
• pollen diary

How to log nasal symptoms during wildfire smoke

During a wildfire smoke event, follow local health and emergency advice first. When you can safely make a note, record where you were, time indoors and outdoors, what you noticed and whether an air quality reading was available. Leave missing readings marked as unknown.

What to record

For US conditions, use the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map and CDC wildfire smoke guidance. In the UK, check local alerts and UK air quality health advice. If you have urgent symptoms, follow local emergency guidance and seek help before completing any diary.

Sources: UK DAQI health advice; AirNow Fire and Smoke Map; CDC wildfire smoke guidance

Copy a smoke-day example

The afternoon number describes outdoor air in the area. The person was indoors when they checked in, so it gives context and does not measure their indoor exposure. The morning symptom note still has value without a number. If the smoke smell or symptoms began before you went outside, record that order if you remember.

Add the entry to the air quality diary beside an ordinary day if you want to compare them later. A gap is useful to show where your record stops.

• AirBloom