Stagnant air conditions have led to more air quality alerts for the state, with health care professionals advising limited air exposure and staying near air conditioning, especially for those with health problems.

The state Department of Environmental Services said the air quality was moderate across several counties, though unhealthy for sensitive individuals in Cheshire, Merrimack, Rockingham and Hillsborough Counties as well as on the Seacoast and the higher elevations.

Respiratory therapist Carl Rod of Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth said warmth and atmospheric high pressure have caused the air to stagnate, trapping exhaust and other air pollutants.

The lack of air movement has made the air unhealthy for people, especially seniors, young children and those with respiratory and other health conditions. Rod said such air conditions "exasperate" respiratory issues.

Rod said professionals were alerted a few days before warnings were issued of the potential for air quality advisories.

"It's hit the tipping point," he said. "We see more frequent visits to the emergency room. Prevention is the best thing. Stay out of the air, follow your medical regimen."

"So far we havent seen any little blips and complications with our elderly patients," said Margaret Franckhauser, executive director of Community Health and Hospice.

Franckhauser said caregivers make sure that those they visit have rooms with fans and air conditioning, which is especially important for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory ailments.

Franckhauser said patients with respiratory issues should "try to stay in air-conditioned rooms and limit their activity."

The air quality can affect healthy people as well.

"After a while (people) feel tired, they will feel an increase in shortness of breath," Rod said. "It takes longer for them to be affected. You kind of want to slow down and limit your activity. Keep up your fluid intake."

Rod emphasized that fluid intake should not include alcoholic beverages.

Rod said the air quality could improve once air starts moving, which could happen if storms predicted for the area take place.

The DES' air quality forecast on Thursday is predicted to be good across the state.