Asthma is an extremely tough and aggravating disease to deal with. Almost everyone knows how stressful it can be when you are having trouble breathing. Now imagine that feeling of helplessness being at least ten times worse and you will have a slight idea of what it is like to have an asthma attack.
Individuals who have this chronic lung condition will do anything possible to avoid another devastating attack. But, if you do have asthma, what are the best things you can do to keep your lungs working properly?
First things first, if you have asthma, you need to take your medication properly. Make sure you take your asthma attack prevention medication consistently so that lung irritation and inflammation are less likely to happen. Make sure that you keep your emergency inhaler on you so that you can control any attacks that incidentally occur.
However, you should be aware of certain triggers that can induce your asthma attacks. Many people have exercise-induced asthma; this means that certain exercises and aerobic activities aggravate their lungs and breathing ability.
But, have you given any thought to the quality of the air you are breathing, especially if you are living in an urban area? Is there any connection between air pollution and asthma? Let’s take a closer look at the air a city dweller like you might be breathing below.
What Effect Does Air Pollution Have on Asthma?
If you are an asthmatic, you need to pay extremely close attention to what you are breathing every day: the air and the pollution in it. Are you cognizant to the things that are in the air, that can cause you to wheeze and make your lungs inflamed?
There are two main types of air pollution that have been shown to have a devastating effect on most people with asthma. These two types of asthma-exacerbating pollution are ozone and airborne particles.
Ozone: The Semi-Visible Asthma Aggravator
Ozone, O3, is a common gas pollutant that is seen in most cities with a large number of cars driving every day. Ozone gas also has a tendency to gather in abundance during hot, summer days with low levels of air movement.
You can actually see ozone when it accumulates over an urban area; you probably already know it as haze or smog. When there is too much ozone in the air, the statistics for asthma attacks and emergency room breathing treatments grow. This is because ozone has a devastating effect on the lungs, especially for those with pre-existing breathing problems.
Airborne Pollutants That Bother Asthmatics
Natural airborne particles in the pollution such as dust, smoke, mold, pollen, and animal hair can cause most asthmatics’ lungs to immediately start malfunctioning. Really any type of small, breathable particle has to be watched out for! This is because any prolonged breathing of anything that isn’t clean, pure air can cause an asthma attack.
However, this doesn’t mean you can’t go outside at all! Just wear a particulate-catching face mask when outside, to protect your lungs when airborne pollutants are present in excessive numbers.
We hope that now, you fully understand the connection between air pollution and asthma. As a person suffering from chronic asthma, you should make sure that you do your best to avoid all man-made and natural forms of air pollution. Doing so will help your lungs work better and breathe easier!
If you are having any troubles breathing or are worried about your lung function for any reason, please contact us, at Fix24 Joint Biomechanics in Scottsdale, Arizona. We offer a variety of homeopathic and natural ways to make your lungs and body stronger. Reach out to us, today!
