Asthma + Lung UK, the UK lung charity, is warning people living with lung conditions to take extra precautions as high and moderate air pollution sweeping over the country this week and next could heighten the risk of life-threatening asthma attacks and flare-ups of other lung conditions.
The UK’s air pollution alert system, provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is forecasting high pollution in the East of England from Monday. High air pollution episodes are rare, but are likely to become more frequent because of climate change. The rest of England is forecast to have moderate levels of air pollution, which can also lead to life-threatening asthma attacks.
Research from the charity reveals that more than half of people in the UK with asthma (53%) and 47% of people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) say that toxic air is a trigger for their symptoms. This is based on surveys of more than 16,000 people. When applied to the general population of people with asthma and COPD, this could equate to as many as 3.4 million people who are affected.
Combined with forecasted hot weather and thunderstorms, the charity is warning people living with lung conditions to take extra precautions to keep themselves safe.
Emma Rubach, Head of Health Advice at Asthma + Lung UK, said:
“With air pollution forecasted to be higher than normal in parts of England next week, along with high temperatures and the potential for thunderstorms, people with lung conditions could be facing a toxic cocktail of dirty air that could increase the risk of asthma attacks and symptom flare-ups. We know that half of people with asthma and COPD are triggered by air pollution, so we’re urging people to be vigilant and take extra precautions to protect themselves.
“If you have a lung condition, please make sure you are taking your daily preventer medication as prescribed and carrying your reliever inhaler with you at all times. You may also want to avoid strenuous exercise outside. People who live near busy roads tell us that when pollution is high, it even affects them by drifting through open windows – you may want to consider closing your windows if this is you. You can find out more information and health advice on our website: asthmaandlung.org.uk.
“The levels of air pollution forecast next week should be a wake-up call to government to commit to improve air pollution alerts so more of the public know what they are and what to do on days like this when air pollution spikes.”