BREATHE EASY: keep

A L I A N E E K L Y your Love

lungs

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R W • HEALTH EXPERT

From asthma to bronchitis, almost one in three Australians lives with a lung disease. So how can you protect your lungs, especially in bushfire and storm season? What can you do to make them stronger and healthier?

This summer started with catastrophic bushfires in many parts of Australia. I know in my general practice, we were seeing an unusually high number of people suffering from irritated eyes, blocked noses, coughing and trouble breathing due to weeks of choking smoke. This was reflected in hospital admissions too, with NSW Heath reporting increases in hospital presentations for asthma and breathing problems during the bushfire emergency, and almost double the usual number in the worst-affected areas. This prompted a reminder for all of us, especially those with a pre-existing A U S T E N ’ S

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lung condition, to take precautions to protect our lungs. It’s easy to take good lung health for granted, until you have a problem with your breathing. So how do we take care of our lungs? T H

Bushfires Even for those with healthy lungs, bushfire smoke can be a challenge. If you can, stay inside with air conditioning switched onto recycle. Avoid exercising outdoors and see your GP if you’re coughing consistently or have trouble breathing. If you have asthma, you will hopefully be familiar with your Asthma Action Plan. If you are on a preventer, make sure you are taking it regularly, and

Health

Looking after your lungs

WHAT WE CAN ALL DO to strengthen, protect and care for our lungs in these special events and for the long term?

• Don’t smoke. Ever • Exercise every day to the point of puffing for at least 20–30 minutes • Regular yoga practice can be beneficial for breathing problems

• Spend regular time in nature, among trees or by the ocean

• Avoid exercising outdoors on poor air quality days • Wear a mask for protection against infection and pollution at times of high risk • Avoid crowds during the flu season

• Have an annual flu vaccine and ask your doctor about a pneumococcal vaccine

• Avoid exposure to indoor pollutants • If someone at home has a respiratory illness, take precautions to avoid exposure • When air quality is low, close the windows and switch on air conditioning. Or visit an air-conditioned venue such as an indoor shopping mall or public library. carry your relieving medication with you at all times. If you have asthma but you don’t have a plan –or it needs to be updated because of current environmental conditions or because you are experiencing more symptoms –then visit your GP for a review. You don’t need a prescription to buy reliever puffers like Ventolin, but you do need instructions on when and how to use it.

Thunderstorm asthma In recent years we have heard about a number of formerly rare events called “thunderstorm asthma”. According to the National Asthma Foundation, “thunderstorm asthma can happen suddenly to people in spring or summer when there is a lot of pollen in the air and the weather is hot, dry, windy and stormy.” It can happen to anyone living in the city or the country, even if they’ve never had asthma. Those who have hayfever, for instance, are at a higher risk for thunderstorm asthma. Seek shelter indoors in the wind gusts before and during thunderstorms. If there’s air conditioning, switch it to recycle. For more advice, visit nationalasthma.org.au Vaping update A relatively new challenge for lung health, “vaping” is the inhaling of nicotine vapour from a device such as an e-cigarette. What many people hoped would provide a new way to improve their health by helping them to quit smoking cigarettes has emerged as a serious health concern. There has been an outbreak of lung injuries or deaths associated with vaping in the USA. As of December 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 55 deaths. Details are emerging but at this stage it appears that cases are related to people using vaping with cannabis or using products from informal sources, but the causes are not fully known. My advice at this stage is to exercise caution about vaping and ask your GP for advice on proven strategies to quit smoking. Indoor air pollution When we think about air pollution, we usually think about the outdoors. But indoor air quality also has an impact on your lung health. Sources of indoor pollution include fuel-burning heaters, exposure to smoking, some building materials and furnishings, mould, household products that emit fumes, and other household chemicals. The situation is made worse if your home or office has poor ventilation. Effects of exposure can include nose and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness and breathing problems. One popular way to assist with purification of indoor air right now is with pot plants. It’s important to also identify sources of indoor air pollution (with advice at yourhome.gov.au) and keep your home well ventilated. AWW

Should we wear face masks? WEARING MASKS outside of a surgical theatre wasn’t something we used to see in Australia, only in Asian countries where there is a high degree of awareness of air pollution and the contagion of respiratory infection. I am often asked if they work. WE ARE ACCUSTOMED to wearing masks in general practice, for the protection of patients and for ourselves. We make sure there is a constant supply of masks in our clinic reception area, and we insist that anyone with a cough or fever who may be contagious puts one on while they wait. SO YES, there is a reduction in spread of respiratory infections if you wear a mask and this is particularly important for people with respiratory problems. But what about masks as protection against airborne particles? The answer is that it depends on the type of airborne particles causing the poor air quality and the type of mask.

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