Air Pollution Causes Asthma
Asthma is a chronic lung disease in which the person’s ability to breathe easily gets badly affected. It is a health ailment in which the flow of air that takes place in and out of lungs gets obstructed, thus making respiration difficult. Some of the asthma symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness.
Urban Air ‘Worsens Asthma’
Air which passes US quality standards can still cause breathing problems in children with asthma, research suggests.The Californian study adds to the body of evidence pointing to the damage caused by traffic and other air pollution in cities.
Health Impacts of Air Pollution: Asthma
Air pollution has been shown to induce asthma attacks. During an asthma episode, or attack, the sensitive airway linings react to trigger exposures by becoming inflamed, swollen and filled with mucus. The muscles lining the swollen airways tighten and constrict making them even more narrowed and obstructed.
Air Pollution Spurs Allergies, Asthma
In cities across America allergies and asthma seem to be worsening. It’s not that more plants are pollinating, experts say. Rather, it’s the high levels of diesel fumes and ozone polluting the air.
How We Can Prevent Asthma
The Prevention of Early Asthma in Kids(PEAK) study will enroll children ages 2 to 4 who have had wheezing episodes in the previous year and have one additional risk factor, such as eczema, allergies, or a parent with asthma. Study participants will take the inhaled steroid fluticasone (Flovent®) or an inactive inhaler as placebo twice daily for two years. After two years, patients will be taken off the study medication and observed for one year to see if they develop any asthma symptoms.
Bad Air Can Bring On Asthma Attacks
Asthma is a chronic, sometimes debilitating condition that has no cure. It keeps kids out of school (for a total of 14 million lost school days each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control) and sidelines them from physical activity.
In recent years, scientists have shown that air pollution from cars, factories and power plants is a major cause of asthma attacks. And more than 159 million Americans — over half the nation’s population — live in areas with bad air.
Ways To Avoid Asthma
Grass, Tree, and Weed Pollen
Pollen travels on the wind, so your best bet to avoid pollen is to stay indoors in the air conditioning on hot, dry, windy days. Your local weather reports will tell you when pollen counts are high.
Pet Dander
The best way to avoid contact with pet dander is to avoid all furry and feathered animals. If you do have a pet, then keep it out of the bedroom and – if possible – out of living areas too. Brush and wash it weekly, or better yet, have someone else do it for you.
