I really struggle in the summer with my asthma, have tried all sorts such as Xolair which didn't work for me (not eligible for the other biologics apparently) It seems I'm just expected to get by on steroids and staying indoors.
I find that my asthma is better at the seaside, I can only guess it's low pollution or lower pollen levels. Has anyone moved to the seaside or anywhere else similar mainly because it suits their asthma? I'm getting to the point where I am considering it as I'm running out of options...!
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I can definitely see myself moving to the coast at some point or maybe finding a way of spending a couple of months of the Summer by the sea. Its becoming more of a struggle as the weather heats up. Today has been difficult - hot, humid, pollen and pollution!
My allergies and asthma are no where near as bad by the sea. My doctor frequently says I'd be better moving but until relocation is offered on the NHS I'll have to stay put.
Same here! We have a week's holiday by the sea in winter and another in summer and I'm like a totally different person during those times! We have to go where we're sent with my husband's work, but if we ever have the option, we will definitely be pushing for a coastal placement!
I guess it's all down to triggers. Bizarrely, my biggest trigger is damp, so you'd think I'd be worse by the sea, but I'm at my best there! I read somewhere that the iodine (I think it was iodine?) in sea air can be soothing for certain lung conditions - but I guess if iodine is a trigger for you, then you'll be even worse off!
Last winter, I went for a walk by a sea cliff where the spray was so bad it was like mist, and I had no breathing difficulties at all. But I live near a river, and if I'm walking by it when it gets to the time of night when the mist starts rising off it, I'll start strugging to breathe within seconds.
My OH reckoned I was better on holiday just because I was more relaxed - but then we had a week inland instead of by the coast and I was every bit as bad as I am at home. So I know it's not just being off work that makes me feel better.
The mist can be associated with many things... it can trigger release of spores and pollen, condense pollutants, who knows. I think the sea generally has less sources of pollen, dust, and spores, and pollutants. But these things can also travel far with the wind.
I'm the same, I live 3 minutes from the beach yet still really struggle, it's strange how it works. Out of curiosity do you have back waters near you as well?
Thanks for replying. That's interesting I think it's classed as an estuary here and also feeds into the sea. I was told once this changes the way the air flows and my husband was working for someone years ago who said they moved away from here because her daughter's asthma was really bad. They only moved 30 minutes away so was still by the sea but no estuary and it improved massively, it's making me wonder now as ironically I moved from the country to here, thinking I was getting away from all the rapeseed yet my breathing is worse. We are looking at moving at some point so will have to wait and see. Again, thanks for replying and take care
Yes… as you say it’s very difficult to know what’s best! And everyone is different.
Besides the sea/estuary we have lots of fields and woodlands and all manner of potential triggers around us too, including the dreaded rape seed.. but I really can’t link any particular one thing to my eosinophils taking a random hike and landing me in hospital!🤷♂️🙄
Who knows….🤷♂️🤷♂️ Good luck to those who are helped by salty water!
I’ve lived by the sea for 20 years now I find it makes very little difference to when I lived in the country. But if I go out on a boat I feel much better.
And the cold weather which we also have to avoid. Does anyone else feel jealous watching other people enjoying the outdoors? This is my second year with asthma. I've had rhinitis for a long time but it wasn't dangerous.
My asthma improved enormously when we lived by the sea, backed by ancient pasture land. We moved here to be near to family & unfortunately are now we are surrounded by fields of oil seed rape, maize, wheat & my asthma has deteriorated significantly over the last 10 years - I’m on more medication for asthma now & have had many courses of Pred. I miss the sea!
My asthma is not better by the sea (b.c. of the smell or whatever), but it's much better in the desert, or in the mountains at high altitude. I also found that running away to a non-polluting, industry-free place is not productive: isolated places also have less accessibility to qualified care and urgent care, and less jobs. I try to control my environment by wearing an FFP2 mask and by sleeping in a HEPA-filtered tent.
I’ve moved to the seaside when I was around 10 as my asthma living in a city was very bad but since then I’ve have had the odd time I’ve had to go to hospital for treatment and then catching covid. I’m almost certain that the move made an positive impact.
I was born and brought up on the north coast of Cornwall and my asthma was terrible. Moved to Birmingham in the days of the smogs and was much better. So what suits one person does not suit another. Try a few holidays in your favoured spot at different times of the year before making a move. I Sailed from Harwich to Sweden once and as soon as we were about 2 miles off shore my asthma symptoms just disappeared like magic. Had no more symptoms until we were within sight of the UK coastline on the return journey when I was back to my usual wheezes etc.
I thought some scientific research was needed. So I walked from my garden the 500 m to the sea to find out when my asthma felt better. My answer was it felt better on the beach than in my garden, but if felt superb when I was paddling about knee deep.
So the seaside for me is better, but for it to really work I have to at least go paddling.
historically, it's what making people have done. The trick is controlling potential sources of mold in your home/work environment. You might see if it is possible to move temporarily -- with a temporary roommate situation, or perhaps your employer would consider allowing you to work remotely for 2-3 months to try, especially if your doctor is supportive and you demonstrate efforts to control the rest.
Also remember not all coastal locations are equal -- some have prevailing winds that might blow industrial air pollution across the area at times you might not experience when you are first looking for a place to stay.
Interesting post about air pollution and the coast.
Air pollution can be worse in some coastal areas because of the lack of trees means the air gets warmer which holds the particulates in the air. Plus lots of coastal areas have ports which bring lots of pollutants in. So I hope that's not the case for where you move to.
This Defra link is really helpful for monitoring high pollution level areas, in case you aren't aware of it:
We're in a very low pollution area, but my asthma's been a lot worse since moving from an area with much higher pollution that was near an estuary. (My GP says lots of his patients complain their asthma got much worse after moving here...great! Wish I'd known that beforehand!!!) I think part of the problem is that we are in a densely wooded valley here, so lots of humidity and also it seems to act as a 'bowl' that retains the air. But I have also read articles saying that air by the sea contains chemicals that can be beneficial for lung health, such as magnesium and iodine. I can't find any references to actual scientific tests, just phrases like 'controlled tests have proven', so it may not be accurate but it might explain why some people benefit from being near the coast compared to being in a less polluted area inland?
I live about 30 minutes from the coast and I find the sea air helps when I go on day trips but I accept other people's points about proximity to other possible triggers. I went to mid- Wales for a holiday a few years ago and even though the house we rented had a beach a few minutes walk away there was a lot of countryside around too and this really triggered my asthma. And as Claire says there's pollution at ports. You feel like you're walking a tightrope with asthma sometimes, the places you go to have to be "just so"...!
Hi that's different to me. I find the sea, side makes me very chesty. Everybody reacts, differently I suppose. My sis, had asthma, too as, a, child and reacted badly to the sea, air. Think you should do whatever feels, right for you. Maybe have a lot more sea, side visits, before you move just to make sure, I wish you well
Hi can I just ask please, silly question, but are you on anti histamines,and steroid nasal spray? Have they not done a full allergy test, with skin pricks etc
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