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Bushfire and Asthma

15/2/2013

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Summer time in Australia can be particularly problematic for people with asthma. Wood smoke from hazard reduction burns and bush fires contain harmful gases. These include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide and a range of organic compounds, any of which could irritate sensitive airways and trigger asthma. 

Children, the elderly, and people with asthma and other breathing problems are usually the first to feel the effects of smoke and particle pollution so they need to take extra care during summer.

What can I do to minimise my exposure?  Hazard reduction burns to reduce the threat of bushfires occur in most Australian states and territories in late winter or spring. These are usually publicised through local newspapers and radio and there is often a timetable on the rural fire service (or similar organisation) website for each state.

Tips for staying safe and well  During bushfire season you should:

  • Visit your doctor to update your Asthma Action Plan prior to the burn-off/bushfire season.
  • When there is smoke from fires in the area, unless you are advised to evacuate you should stay indoors, close all windows and doors and block all air vents and use a filtered air conditioner to circulate air.
  • Avoid doing physical activity outdoors when there is smoke around.
  • Continue using your preventer medication as prescribed on your written Asthma Action Plan and ensure you have plenty of reliever medication with you at all times.
  • Keep an extra reliever puffer with your most precious papers or photographs or evacuation kit to ensure it goes with you if you need to leave suddenly. Do not keep an inhaler in your car as extreme heat may make your medication ineffective. Some medication canisters can also explode under intense heat conditions in cars.
What should I do if I am exposed to bushfire smoke? If you do have to go outside when there is bushfire smoke:

  • Stay low to the ground, and wear a face mask or thick cloth that firmly covers your nose and mouth to prevent breathing in a large amount of smoke.
  • If you are exposed to smoke and your reliever medication isn’t controlling your asthma symptoms, start asthma first aid and get medical help as soon as you can.
Note: Even after a fire has passed, you still need to be careful as large fires may smother an area with smoke haze for days. After the fire, wear a face mask or cloth, and wet down any dry, dusty areas before doing any cleaning up.

Wheezing, coughing, chest tightness or shortness of breath can occur for several days after smoke is inhaled, so people with asthma and other lung conditions need to very carefully monitor and manage their asthma and seek medical attention if increased symptoms persist.  

Bushfire volunteers, emergency personnel and media representatives  Because of their long and intensive exposure to fire, heat and smoke, many volunteers working in bushfire affected regions have an increased risk of asthma attacks. If you have asthma, make sure other volunteers around you know you have asthma in case you need help. Make sure you take plenty of breaks to get away from smoke and rest indoors wherever possible.

Note: Be especially careful to make sure you have reliever medication with you at all times.

For more information contact your Asthma Foundation on 1800 645 130

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Asthma is more prevalent to those living nearer the Equator

14/2/2013

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Those living near the equator may find themselves sneezing and wheezing more than usual. And the reason may not be due to increasing pollen counts. According to a new study released in the February issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), living in locations closest to the equator can put you at increased risk of developing allergy and asthma.

"UV-B rays exposure is higher for people living in areas closer to the equator," said Vicka Oktaria, MPH, lead study author. "This increase in UV-B may be linked to vitamin D, which is thought to modify the immune system. These modifications can lead to an elevated risk of developing allergy and asthma."

Previous studies have shown that latitude can reflect a variation in airborne allergens due to climate, housing and social and cultural differences. This study is one of the first using the individuals latitude location and UV-B exposure to examine the association with allergy and asthma.

"Allergies and asthma are serious diseases that can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated properly," said allergist Richard Weber, MD, ACAAI president. "Both conditions can be more than bothersome for people, no matter their geographic location, and can last year-round."

Board-certified allergists are the best-trained health professionals to perform testing and treat both asthma and allergic diseases effectively. According to ACAAI, many people that have an allergy also experience asthma symptoms. In fact, an estimated 75 to 85 percent of asthmatics have an allergy.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our allergy section for the latest news on this subject.

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Asthma and Olympic Athletes

14/2/2013

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THURSDAY, Aug. 2, 2012 (HealthDay News) -- 

Asthma and airway hyper-responsiveness are the most common chronic conditions among Olympic athletes, affecting about 8 percent of the competitors, according to a new study.

The Australian researcher suggested the conditions may be linked to the athletes' intense training, particularly those who participate in endurance sports or winter sports. The inhalation of cold air contributes to airway damage.

Airway hyper-responsiveness involves marked narrowing of the airways in response to some kind of outside trigger.

"Inhaling polluted or cold air is considered an important factor which might explain the cause in some sports, but not in all," explained study author Kenneth Fitch, of the University of Western Australia, in a university news release. "The quality of inhaled air could be harmful to the airways, but does not cause the same effect in all sports."

Fitch counted the number of athletes with asthma and airway hyper-responsiveness from the five Olympic games between 2002 and 2010. He identified the athletes by tracking the use of inhaled beta-2 agonists, an anti-asthma drug commonly used by top athletes.

In 2001, the International Olympic Committee recognized the increased use of the drug between 1996 and 2000, and issued a new rule requiring athletes to provide proof of their condition to safeguard the health of Olympic athletes, not as an anti-doping measure, according to the news release.

Fitch noted that athletes with asthma have routinely beaten their opponents. He added, however, there is no proof that treatments for the condition improved their performance. He suggested that training harder than other athletes could help explain why many athletes develop asthma or airway hyper-responsiveness as adults.

The study was published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

More information

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute provides more information on asthma.


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    Author

    Pippa Windsor has a keen interest in breathing disorders.

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