Many gases and pollutants mixed with the air cause air pollution. Exhaust smoke and factory smoke, especially in big cities, also pollute the air. Therefore both indoor and outdoor air pollution can trigger asthma. Stating that asthmatic complaints increase in sudden temperature changes in the air, windy and cold weather, Dr. Koray Akay, Managing Director at Medline lists ways to prevent asthma attacks:
Why does air pollution trigger asthma?
Outdoor air pollution including ozone, sulfur dioxide and particulates can also adversely affect indoor air. Irritants in the air can affect asthma patients more than healthy people, initiate disease symptoms or aggravate the disease. Especially in poorly ventilated places in the house, cigarette smoke, gas stoves, wood or coal stoves and fireplaces, furniture that releases formaldehyde, cleaning materials such as radon gas, detergent, bleach, cosmetic products such as perfume and deodorant can stimulate the respiratory tract with allergic or irritation.
What should asthma patients pay attention to?
Individuals suffering from asthma should first consult a physician about how they should proceed in their asthma treatment process. Stating that asthma patients should spend less time outdoors during the hours and days when air pollution is high, Dr. Akay said, “The person should take care not to be outside during risky hours, and not be exposed to cigarettes or other harmful fumes indoors.”
What to do to prevent asthma attacks?
- Smoking and drinking should not be allowed in all indoor environments, in homes or workplaces,
- Paint, varnish, pesticides and cleaning agents should be used carefully and thoroughly ventilated afterwards,
- If chimney stoves are used, the chimneys should be cleaned frequently,
- On days when air pollution is intense, being outside too much, doing heavy exercises should be avoided, the windows of the houses should be closed and you should not go outside unless necessary.
- Asthmatic patients should use their medications regularly and keep the breathalyzer from their side, and even increase the dose in polluted air if necessary,
- If necessary, face-compatible masks should be used.
