E27. From Reaction to Prevention: Using Environmental Data to Improve Respiratory Care with Eric Klos

In this episode of Beyond the Wheeze, I sit down with Eric Closs, Founder and CEO of Daily Breath, to explore the powerful (and often overlooked) relationship between outdoor air quality, environmental exposure, and respiratory health — especially asthma.Eric explains how environmental conditions like air pollution, pollen, wildfire smoke, temperature shifts, and weather patterns can quietly increase risk, even before symptoms show up. Through Daily Breath, his mission is to help people anticipate and prevent attacks using personalized, real-time environmental data, rather than relying on generalized forecasts or reacting when it’s already too late.He also shares the “light bulb” moment that sparked the creation of Daily Breath after witnessing his sister’s rheumatoid arthritis flare up due to weather changes. That experience revealed a major gap in modern healthcare: environmental triggers are real, measurable, and highly personal — yet they’re still often ignored in asthma care.Our conversation goes beyond asthma alone, connecting environmental exposure to broader health outcomes like cardiovascular strain, the impact of cumulative exposure over time, and the need for localized, actionable information that helps people make smarter daily choices.🔗 Learn more: https://www.dailybreathforecast.com/🎧 More episodes: https://beyondthewheeze.ca/podcast00:31 Introduction to Eric Closs and Daily Breath01:42 The Light Bulb Moment: Inspiration Behind Daily Breath03:25 Focusing on Asthma: Identifying the Gaps in Care04:54 The Heartbreaking Story of Diamond Conway06:39 Understanding Environmental Triggers and Their Impact12:41 The Role of Weather in Asthma and Respiratory Health14:47 Cumulative Exposure: Why It Matters23:57 Personalized Environmental Health Risk Index29:34 Recognizing Early Symptoms and Environmental Risks30:34 The Importance of Bedroom Air Quality30:52 Nasal Rinses and Environmental Oversights32:40 Health System Failures and Environmental Triggers34:49 Integrating Environmental Data into Healthcare38:36 Communicating Air Quality to Asthma Patients41:50 Practical Outdoor Tips for Asthma Management45:45 Reframing Asthma Care Around Environmental Risks49:20 Future of Environmental Awareness in Respiratory Health53:26 Final Thoughts and ResourcesConnect with us (@BeyondTheWheeze):Check us out on InstagramFollow Beyond the Wheeze on LinkedInConnect with us on TikTokFollow us on FacebookSpeaking services, media, blog & news on our websiteEmail Josh directly at [email protected] video podcasts more your thing? Check us out on YouTube!Visit Asthma Canada, or the Lung Health Foundation, to see how you can get involved today.