Asthma and pollution

[Saj123456]

I have asthma, on Symbicort good control but got a course in London for few days and concerned about pollution levels and how it may impact my asthma. Any advice?

[Wheezycat]

You may be completely fine, but make sure that as usual you carry your reliever, and consider getting a mask just in case. Something like the Cambridge mask. I have been to London lots of times, and the only place I have noticed a problem was walking up Charing Cross Road late afternoon, but that is me.

[Saj123456 in reply to Wheezycat]

Thanks for that, I’m from Scotland where there is less pollution. Do you take a preventive inhaler yourself, I take symbicort every day and pollution is a trigger point for me. Hence concerns, is central London highly polluted or maybe my perception on what I have read. Thanks

[Wheezycat in reply to Saj123456]

I use Symbicort 200/6. And yes, I would follow Emma’s advice. I always bring my rescue pack for any overnights, but I haven’t just overthrew day. But for London that is probably a good idea always. If you do get a Cambridge mask, with loops for the ears, you can add on ties to the loops. I wear glasses so anything else was too uncomfortable. I carry my mask wherever I go, but rarely need to use it. Last time was here at home when I prepared a roast dinner......that affected my lungs.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

Take your meds as usual, be prepared to need more reliever whilst you’re out an about (depending on where in London you are will change the level of pollution so be ready for worst case scenario but some parts are a lot better than others 😅). If you have an emergency steroid pack take it with you for JIC (or maybe ask your GP for one if you haven’t).

Cambridge masks help some as they filter the air but can be uncomfortable on the ears 😅. Buff scarfs are more comfortable but don’t have the filter other than the fact you’re breathing through fabric.

Last time I was in london for a weekend course (I now live on the Norfolk coast so pretty good air) it definitely affected me but not to a massive extent... think i increased my pred and needed more salbutamol but no hospital (so for me a mild issue as I’m a severe asthmatic and my lungs seem to love me eating hospital food 😅)

Hopefully you won’t have any issues but it’s always best to be prepared. Hope it goes well for you

[Saj123456 in reply to EmmaF91]

Thanks for the responses, from what I can tell Emma you have severe asthma but it seems to have only had a mild impact on your asthma. Is there any asthma medicine which you can take if not feeling great and has a fast and immediate impact on your asthma. Back when I first had asthma prob around 12 years ago I was prescribed presidone(I think). It’s been a while since I have taken oral steroids, are these the best steroids to have as an emergency back up. There is a part of me thinks make an excuse and not attend this course in London due to my perceived concerns. Another part of me thinks face my anxieties! But knowing that there is a back up Med that has a fast impact could be handy! Perhaps I’m reading into my asthma a bit to much, as from both responses it seems that the impact on your asthma was minimal. Any guidance on emergency meds and anything else would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Wheezycat in reply to Saj123456]

If anything seems to challenge my asthma my first response, after Ventolin, is to up my Symbicort. But I am on SMART regime, that is it is agreed I can adjust my dose when needed. Mostly for me that is with colds, but I also would with other irritants, if it is more than just fleeting and I can’t get away from it. Why don’t you discuss it with your GP or asthma nurse? My rescue pack has a course of prednisolone and antibiotics. You could also ring the Asthma U.K. nurses, on their helpline.

[Saj123456]

Thank you for your input, much appreciated. It's such a long time ago that I took prednisolone, does this medication take effect immediately upon taking it. In the past my GP has prescribed me diazepam for my anxiety(in relation to my asthma), but again this was a while back. I have been told by some people that diazepam is not good to take if you have asthma? Any help on the above is appreciated, I am aware an element of this is my perception of pollution in London. It sounds to me that you have been to London a few times, do you find a marked difference in pollution in London? I do look at AQI pollution map of UK and it shows London in pollution is not that high compared to other cities. Appreciate your feedback, thank you(and thank you EmmaF91 too).

[hilary39]

I have pollution-sensitive asthma, too. The pollution in Delhi put me in the hospital for a week once and ever since I am super careful about checking the air quality index before I travel.

Do you ever use an AQI (air quality index) tool to track pollution before you travel? It tracks the concentration of particulates + greenhouse gases in the air. Basically anything below 50 is considered "good" and healthy for asthmatics, 50-100 is moderate, 100+ you should limit your time outside

For context, I just checked a few cities and Delhi is 228 (eek!!), Los Angeles is 58, New York is 26, Leeds is 28, and London is 38.

aqicn.org/city/london/

I have found this to be an empowering tool.

Take care and good luck!!

[Saj123456]

Hi Hilary, thank you for your input. I use the AQI tool regularly. In Scotland where I am AQI is between 15 - 30 on average so really good. My asthma is pollution sensitive and I wonder how accurate the AQI readings are, I would like to think they are. My course is in central London on a side street in marble arch. I looked at AQI readings in that area they do vary depending on time of day. At peak they can be around 60, would I be right in saying anything under a 100 is okay and should not be of concern. Do you take a preventer daily for your asthma? Thank you for your input, I wonder how much of this is driven by anxiety as AQI readings are reasonable for London.

[PaulRosedene]

I have chronic asthma. I would say that generally I am not pollution sensitive. For ten years I cycled in central London often on busy main roads. The pollution didn't seem to effect me. Ironically I would often feel better being in an air conditioned office in London, rather than sat in a train breathing in pollen.

The main pollution event I can recall is when I was 15 and on exchange in France. We had spent a week skiing in the Alps. And I can remember coming into the pollution in Lyons and really struggling for breath. Could it be the contrast between levels of pollution that one has become accustomed to and a new situation with much higher pollution ?

When I cycled in London I didn't wear a mask and would have been taking deep breaths of glorious pollution. But we all have different triggers.

[Blue-Breeze]

Hi I'm on the SMART so I use my symbicort instead of ventolin. Ventolin is only used at certain times as laid out in my asthma plan. Maybe see your GP and ask about the SMART. Symbicort contains steroid so helps inflammation. My asthma is triggered by lots of things.

[Saj123456]

Thanks for the input, it's good to hear other people experiences which is helpful. Re-assuring to hear stories that that those who suffer from pollution did not feel an impact when visiting London.

[Saj123456]

Hi all, I recently started to take amoxicillin for an ear infection. Two days in I started to feel wheezy, has anyone had this experience whereby taking this antibiotic can cause asthma symptoms?