With various air quality indexes available, and as wildfire smoke becomes an increasing health risk, here’s what often goes into the decision to play sports or not — and how to make sense of air quality indexes when making your own decision.

In Canada, the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a scale developed to help people understand what the current air quality means for your health. It is an initiative among Environment Canada, Health Canada and the provincial governments.

Canada had some of the worst air quality in North America on Tuesday morning according to waqi.info, the website for the World Air Quality Index project. See how your community ranks.

And even if you don’t feel any discomfort on your run, it doesn’t mean there’s no harm being done. The pollutants can have long-term effects such as reduced lung function, increased risk of respiratory infections and can be linked to countless other health issues.

Wisconsin’s northernmost congressman is fed up with smoke and haze from Canada. Congressman Tom Tiffany was on social media recently, complaining about another air quality alert for much of northern Wisconsin.

The heat warning issued last Friday for the Ottawa-Gatineau region should last until Thursday night, according to Environment Canada. Special air quality statements also linger Tuesday in western Quebec.

The poor air quality that has blanketed swaths of central and Western Canada is not only infiltrating the lungs, but also distressing the mind.