That Wheezy Feeling: Asthma Irritants and What You Can do About It

That Wheezy Feeling: Asthma Irritants and What You Can Do About Them

Kyle Mullin | Dec 15, 2015 11:00 am | Add a comment | 2681 reads | Sponsored by MayAir

While PM2.5s are widely known as one of Beijing's most hazardous pollutants, Dr. Gary Sackrison says those minuscule particles are not the only toxins in our city's smog that can leave you short of breath.

"When it comes to asthma triggers, ozone can often be more irritating in the short term than PM2.5s," says the Beijing Vista Medical Center MD and Dallas transplant.

Ground level ozone is comprised of various pollutants like NOx or Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) that converge under intense sunlight. Dr. Sackrison explains how ozone attacks the airways of anyone who breathes large portions in, causing inflammation and irritation, especially for people who already have asthmatic tendencies.

He adds that because ozone is spurred on by heavy sunlight, this pollutant can wreak havoc on asthma sufferers in the summer, dispelling the misconception that warmer weather is a reprieve from the capital's long, asphyxiating winters.

In addition to ozone Dr. Sackrison says that PM2.5s, which can burrow deeper into the lungs than other pollutants, leaving longer lasting damage, are still a major problem. "Ozone, in the short term, can be a more irritating asthma trigger. But PM2.5s are a more serious long term trigger because they get way down in the lungs and stay there,” he says. “They're not filtered well through our respiratory tract, and can create long lasting changes like emphysema and even lung cancer."

Regardless of the time of year, or the pollutants that are more prevalent during a given period, Dr. Sackrison says the warning signs of smog acerbated asthma are always easy to spot. A wheezing sound during exhaling is the biggest indicator of asthma, according to the MD. Repeated coughing, shortness of breath, lack of exercise tolerance, and gasping that interrupts sleep are other signs that the condition is present or worsening to dangerous levels.

Anyone suffering such symptoms should visit their MD promptly, according to Dr. Sackrison. He says that he and his fellow physicians have several tests – from listening to the lungs, to gauging the amount of air that patients exhale – to determine if pollution aggravated asthma is the source of their discomfort. He adds that such practitioners also have numerous treatments for such afflictions.

"When you're suffering from asthma, your airway is essentially getting inflamed and contracted, which is slowing the air moving out of your lungs," he says, adding: "We have medicines to relax those contracted airways, almost like muscle relaxers that help open up the diameter. We also try to manage swelling and inflammation, with the immediate relief of a rescue inhaler, and long term management with various steroids."

Dr. Sackrison says that last measure is reserved for the most severe cases. He adds that milder instances can be better managed with inhalers and environmental changes, such as the reduction of second hand smoke, removal of pets and, in Beijing, the use of an air purifier indoors (see info below) and wearing an air mask while outside.

"Be sure that it's a high filtration mask and, just as importantly, be sure that it fits snugly," he says, adding that far too many people wear loose fitting masks that offer little in the way of protection because pollutants end of seeping in around the edges.

These measures, according to Dr. Sackrison, should help most Beijingers suffering with asthma symptoms, because there is copious evidence that shows pollution spurs on the condition. And while he is unsure if smog can cause asthma outright, he says: "At the end of the day, does it really matter? Whether or not pollution causes asthma or just makes it worse, try to limit exposure to pollution regardless and manage any symptoms you have."

Here’s how to protect yourself and breathe easier ...
MayAir's purifiers have several pollution busting features, like HEPA filters that ward of PM2.5's and a patented design that transforms VOC's into harmless, easily disposable water. For more information on their top of the line purifiers, visit mayair.com.cn.