Do you have asthma too? Let's find out how dirty air affects asthma! (Air Pollution & Asthma)

Asthma is a health condition that many people in our country have, and it can be a bit annoying, isn't it? It's especially uncomfortable when you have difficulty breathing and feel like your chest is constricting. You may not even know how much the cleanliness of the air around us, that is, the quality of the air, can affect you if you have asthma. That's what we are going to talk about in this article today. When we know these things properly, we can be careful of dirty air and control our asthma and stay healthy.

How does dirty air affect people with asthma?

Simply put, when someone with asthma breathes in dirty air, their breathing difficulties can get worse. It's like adding fuel to a fire that's about to start. This dirty air can cause asthma symptoms to suddenly get worse. We call this an asthma flare-up . Imagine, there's a little boy named Nimal, who has asthma. One day, he came home from playing on the side of a road with a lot of traffic smoke, and suddenly he started wheezing and had a lot of difficulty breathing. That's what can happen. Not only that, dirty air also increases the risk of respiratory infections , such as the flu and cold. When such infections occur, the condition of a person with asthma can get worse.

What are the reasons for the decline in air quality?

There are several main reasons why the air we breathe is polluted. Let's take a look at what they are.

1. Ground-level ozone

You've probably heard of the ozone layer. It's located high in the sky, around the Earth. It protects us from harmful rays from the sun. It's very important for us. But there's another type of ozone that forms near the ground. This one isn't so good for our health. This ground-level ozone is formed when chemicals from vehicles, factories, and power plants combine with sunlight. We also call this "ozone pollution." You've probably noticed that sometimes the sky in urban areas is brown or yellow, like a haze. That's what we call smog . Ground-level ozone is a major component of this smog. When it enters our lungs, it can damage the delicate tissues of the lungs and cause breathing difficulties.

2. Particle Pollution

Next is particle pollution. This is when very small particles of dust, dirt, smoke, and soot are suspended in the air. For example, smoke from forest fires, dust from construction sites, and fine particles from vehicles on the road fall into this category. These particles are so small that some of them are not even visible to our eyes. The smaller these particles are, the more they can get into our lungs and lodge in the deepest parts of the respiratory tract. This is when breathing difficulties, coughing, and wheezing occur. It's like a tiny, invisible thorn has entered the lungs.

3. Other polluting gases

In addition to this, there are various other types of gases that pollute the air. For example:

• Carbon Monoxide
• Nitrogen Dioxide
• Sulfur Dioxide

These gases are mainly emitted when various types of fuel are burned. That is, from vehicles, factories, and some power plants. If these gases are present in the air in high concentrations, it can also adversely affect the functioning of our lungs.

So how can we live with this dirty air?

Now you understand how polluted air affects someone with asthma. So, how can we be careful with this situation? First of all, if air pollution is a trigger for you, that is, if it is a cause of exacerbation of asthma, the best thing to do is to stay away from it as much as possible. But that is not always possible. So, let's see what else you can do. The most important thing is to talk to your doctor and add information about air pollution to your asthma action plan. This is like a plan you make before going to war. Your doctor is the best person to help you make this plan. Next, you can always pay attention to the air quality. It is very easy to get this information these days.

• Websites like AIRNow (www.airnow.gov) (although this applies to the United States, you can get a general idea of ​​the Air Quality Index (AQI)).
• In many countries, local weather departments publish this information on their websites.
• Additionally, you can check the Air Quality Index (AQI) through the weather apps that come with smartphones.

This indicator is usually shown in colors:

• Green or yellow: Air quality is good or moderate. It's not a big deal to go outside.
• Orange: May be harmful to sensitive people (those with conditions such as asthma ).
• Red, purple, maroon: The air is very polluted. It is best for everyone, especially those with asthma, to stay indoors.

What do you do on days when the air quality is poor?

On a day when you find out that the air is dirty, you can do these things:

• If possible, use an air conditioner, as it filters the air to some extent. But don't forget to clean the AC filter regularly.
• Try to do outdoor activities, such as exercise, in the morning. Air quality can usually be slightly better in the morning than at other times of the day.
• Avoid areas with heavy traffic and dust as much as possible. If you are on the road, try to stay away from the side of the bus where there is heavy smoke.
• If you are an athlete, especially a young child with asthma, be sure to talk to your coach about this. It may be possible to train in an air-conditioned indoor gym instead of training outdoors on days when the air is extremely hot or polluted. Or, it may be better for your health to stay away from training on days when the air is very polluted.

Your doctor can give you better ideas on how to deal with these situations.

But whatever you do, never forget one thing! And that is to keep your quick-relief medicine (Rescue inhaler) with you at all times. This is your lifesaver in case of an emergency.

So what are the most important things we need to remember?

Okay, let's now recall the most important points from what we've talked about.

• Air pollution is something that really affects people with asthma, so it's important to be aware of it.
• Identify exactly what triggers your asthma. Air pollution may be one of them.
• Check the air quality whenever possible and plan your day accordingly.
• Take precautions on days when the air is polluted. Things like staying indoors, turning on the AC, and reducing outdoor activities.
• Carry your rescue inhaler with you everywhere you go. This is a must-have.
• Above all, it's important to talk to your doctor regularly. He/she can give you the best advice on how to manage your asthma .

So, I hope you found this information very helpful. Having asthma is not the end of the world. If you take care of these little things, understand them properly, and take the necessary steps, you too can live a happy and healthy life with asthma. Don't worry, you are not alone!

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Asthma, Air Pollution, Respiratory Disease, Health, Lungs, Air Pollution, Asthma