Air quality has improved, but many challenges remain. Particles in the air like dust, dirt, soot, and smoke can play a role in causing health issues such as asthma attacks; eye, nose, and throat irritation; heart attacks and other respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Daily Air Quality Forecast (New Haven) List of Air Pollutants Ozone and Your Health Who is Most Affected by Poor Air Quality Protect Yourself from Air Pollution during Physical Activity Resources for Professionals Environmental Health Section

Seasonal Health

Seasonal changes affect a range of health conditions. The information on this page shows how to manage these seasonal changes for better health outcomes.

Cold Weather

Viral Illnesses (Influenza/Flu/Cold)

The best way to reduce the risk of flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated each year. Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, including types A and B.

Seasonal Mood Disorders (Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that has a cyclical pattern. It happens at the same time each year. Most people with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) experience symptoms that start in the fall and last through the winter months. The symptoms often leave the person feeling tired and low in spirits. Symptoms often get better during the spring and summer months. SAD can sometimes cause depression in the spring or early summer, but it usually ends after the fall or winter months.

Medications, psychotherapy, and light therapy (phototherapy) can help treat SAD. If you have symptoms of SAD, please call your healthcare provider.

Tips for Managing Seasonal Affective Disorder

Radon Testing

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States after smoking. It is an odorless and invisible radioactive gas naturally released from rocks, soil, and water. In outdoor environments, radon levels are very low and generally not considered harmful. However it can get into homes or buildings through small cracks or holes and build up to higher levels. Over time, breathing in high radon levels can cause lung cancer. The good news is that this is preventable.

Warm Weather

Air Quality

Air quality has improved, but many challenges remain. Particles in the air like dust, dirt, soot, and smoke can play a role in causing health issues such as asthma attacks; eye, nose, and throat irritation; heart attacks and other respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

Water Quality

The water quality at Lighthouse Point Park, the only public beach within the City of New Haven, is monitored throughout the summer bathing season (Memorial Day – Labor Day). We work with the State of CT Department of Public Health Laboratory in Rocky Hill during this time to collect samples twice a week (Mondays and Wednesdays) for analysis.

Allergies

Airborne allergens like pollen can affect our health. The amount and type of allergen in the air depends on the season and geographic region. In New Haven ragweed, outdoor mold, and pollen are the most common. If allergens affect you and your family, be sure to take preventative measures and limit time outside.

Heat Exhaustion

High temperatures can be dangerous for your health, especially for the elderly, young children and people who work outside. When temperatures reach 80-90 degrees you should take preventative measures to prevent illness.

Skin Protection

Spending time outdoors is a great way to stay physically active, reduce stress, and get vitamin D. Protecting your skin from the sun’s UV rays is important all year round, and the UV Index forecasts the strength of UV rays each day. If the UV index is 3 or higher, take steps to protect your skin from too much exposure to the sun.

Tick Bites, Lyme Disease & Mosquito-borne Illnesses

Ticks are most commonly found in wooded areas, grasslands and coastal areas. When a human is bitten by an infected tick, they can contract Lyme disease. Though Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, symptoms may remain even after treatment.

Asthma & Pneumonia

Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. Certain asthma triggers can cause an asthma attack or repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma can be controlled by taking medicine, avoiding triggers, and removing triggers in your environment.

Health Observances

January

Cervical Health Awareness Month
Cervical Cancer | National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program

National Stalking Awareness Month
Stalking: Know it. Name it. Stop it. | Intimate Partner Violence

National Birth Defects Awareness Month
Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities | National Birth Defects Awareness Month

National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Sex Trafficking, Sexual Violence, and Violence Prevention | Human Trafficking

National Folic Acid Awareness Week (First Week)
Folic Acid | Folic Acid & You

February

International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
10 Tips for Preventing Infections Before and During Pregnancy

National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
Dating Matters | Youth Violence Prevention

American Heart Month
Women and Heart Disease | Lower Your Risk for the Number 1 Killer of Women | The Heart Truth | Million Hearts | Assessing Cardiovascular Risk

National Wear Red Day (February 3)
National Wear Red Day | The Heart Truth | Million Hearts

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (Last Week)
Eating Disorders | Feeding Hope

March

National Endometriosis Awareness Month
Endometriosis | Reproductive Health

Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal Cancer Tests Save Lives

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 10)
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

April

STI Awareness Month
Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexual Assault Awareness Prevention Month
Sexual Violence

Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Keep an Eye on Your Vision Health | Eye Safety at Work

Black Maternal Health Week (2nd to Last Week)
Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality

National Infertility Awareness Week (Last Week)
Infertility FAQs | Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

May

American Stroke Month
National Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program | Stroke Information | WISEWOMAN Program

Lupus Awareness Month
Lupus in Women | Be Fierce. Take Control.

National Arthritis Awareness Month
Arthritis

National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
Osteoporosis

National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
About Teen Pregnancy

Preeclampsia Awareness Month
High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy | Pregnancy Complications

National Women’s Health Week (2nd to Last Week)
National Women’s Health Week

National Women’s Check-Up Day (May 8)
Regular Checkups

Fibromyalgia Awareness Day (May 12)
Fibromyalgia

Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28)
Menstrual Hygiene Day

World No Tobacco Day (May 31)
World No Tobacco Day | Smokefree Women | Tips From Former Smokers® Campaign | Tobacco Use and Pregnancy | Commit to Quit CT

June

Diabetes Awareness Month
American Diabetes Association

Scleroderma Awareness Month
Scleroderma

National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Congenital CMV Infection

National Men’s Health Week (2nd Week)
National Men’s Health Week

National Women’s Health & Fitness Day (June 27)
Women’s Health | Physical Activity

July

International Group B Strep Awareness Month
Group B Strep (GBS)

National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month
Prioritizing Minority Mental Health | National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

August

National Breastfeeding Month
Breastfeeding

National Immunization Awareness Month
National Immunization Awareness Month | Vaccines/Immunizations | Maternal Vaccines: Part of Healthy Pregnancy

World Breastfeeding Week (First Week)
Breastfeeding

September

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Ovarian Cancer | Gynecologic Cancers

Healthy Aging Month
National Institute on Aging | Healthy Brain Initiative | Depression is Not a Normal Part of Growing Older

National Preparedness Month
Reproductive Health in Emergency Preparedness and Response | Emergency Preparedness and Response | New Haven Emergency Preparedness

National Sexual Health Awareness Month
Sexual Health

National Sickle Cell Month
Learn More About Sickle Cell Disease

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Month
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) | Reproductive Health | Common Reproductive Health Concerns for Women

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
Childhood Overweight and Obesity | Progress on Childhood Obesity

National Suicide Prevention Week (Second Week)
Suicide Prevention | National Helpline | Suicide: Prevention Strategies

Falls Prevention Week (Second to Last Week)
STEADI – Older Adult Fall Prevention | Older Adult Falls

World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10)
Suicide Prevention | National Helpline | Suicide: Prevention Strategies

National Women’s Health and Fitness Day™ (September 28)
Physical Activity for All Women | WISEWOMAN

World Heart Day
Women and Heart Disease | Prevent Heart Disease | WISEWOMAN | Million Hearts®

October

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness | National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Intimate Partner Violence | Prevent Domestic Violence in Your Community

Health Literacy Month
Health Literacy

Mental Illness Awareness Week (First Week)
Learn About Mental Health | Tobacco Use Among Adults with Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders

Bone and Joint Health National Action Week (Third Week)
Osteoporosis

National Depression Screening Day (October 10)
Mental Health | Depression Among Women | Depression During and After Pregnancy | Diabetes and Depression in Older Women (Podcast) | Diabetes, Distress, and Depression (Podcast)

World Mental Health Day (October 10)
Mental Health | Aging and Mental Health | Improving Cancer Survivors’ Mental Health

International Day of the Girl (October 11)
International Day of the Girl | Elevating the Health of Girls, Worldwide

Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day (October 13)
Breast Cancer Awareness | National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program

National Mammography Day (October 20)
What Is a Mammogram and When Should I Get One?

November

Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Lung Cancer Awareness | Basic Information About Lung Cancer

National Family Caregivers Month
Care Plans Help Both Older Adults and Caregivers | Families with Special Needs: Caregiving Tips | Caregiving for Person with Alzheimer’s Disease or a related Dementia

American Diabetes Month
Diabetes | Prediabetes | Diabetes and Women | Diabetes and Pregnancy

National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging | Minorities and Women Are at Greater Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease

Great American Smokeout (November 11)
How to Quit

National Family Health History Day (November 23)
Family Health History

December

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month
Substance Use | Impaired Driving

National Handwashing Awareness Week (Second Week)
Handwashing

World AIDS Day (December 1)
World AIDS Day | HIV Among Women | HIV and Pregnant Women, Infants, and Children | HIV and Transgender People