Masks during moderate air quality?

[Beefull8]

Hi. I’m traveling where the air quality tends to be moderate. The last time I had an asthma flare and ended up on prednisone. I’m hoping to avoid that this time and wondering if masks help. Or does anyone have advice on tips to mitigate moderate air quality? Thanks!

[Homely2]

I would take a mask, but also work on your breathing exercises beforehand, I do much better if I am using nasal breathing.

[Beefull8 in reply to Homely2]

What kind of breathing exercises?

[Homely2 in reply to Beefull8]

asthmaandlung.org.uk/living...

I went to a physio, I use my mouth a lot for breathing, she taught me to switch to breathing through my nose whenever it was getting dodgy. She also taught me how to get my breathing under control when I was losing it, through pursed lip breathing and rectangular breathing.

I attach a link to the asthma UK website, which has lots of material on it on the subject. I also did their breathe easy six week online course. You can alternatively just Google, asthma UK breathing exercises, or asthma UK courses. That is better than my trying to explain the techniques.

It does not get rid of the issues learning to breathe better, but it makes you much more resilient.

[Beefull8 in reply to Homely2]

Thank you! I feel like focusing on my breath is triggering so not sure if it would make it worse. But I appreciate the link and maybe will try it again.

[pskp00]

N-95 masks keep out particles of 2.5 micron, and the air quality is based on how many of those small particles are in the air. It is those tiny particles that can be breathed and get into the lungs and cause irritation. My son has asthma and has been tracking the allergy index and the air quality. He has put on an N-95 mask on days when the air quality has been moderate or high, and it has helped him not to flare up. The app we use to track air quality is IQAir. Along with good, moderate, bad etc, they color code ( green is good, yellow, orange, red) and he wears a mask when they show the air quality color as orange or red . He also stays inside on days the color is red.

[Beefull8 in reply to pskp00]

Wow that’s great! That gives me hope that I will be ok. Funny my allergist said masks won’t help unless there is a wildfire. But I have tons of masks from covid so will try it. Thanks!

[pskp00]

Look up and do some research on air quality and particle size. Air pollution can also affect the air quality. Everyone and their condition/allergies etc are different, but be aware and do what you can to help yourself on bad air quality days. My son also tracks the allergy levels. The app he uses is Allergy Plus. He has started a spreadsheet to monitor his symptoms, allergy/air quality, what extra meds he has had to use (such as nebs, prednisone, antibiotic etc)

[Beefull8]

Where I live the air quality is almost always good but not so where I am traveling. I haven’t needed my rescue inhaler in five years since I traveled last. I will definitely be wearing a mask and checking the air quality. Thanks!