Today, air pollution is one of the most important problems affecting the health of patients with asthma. Underlining that air pollution increases the frequency of asthma and emergency applications due to asthma, Turkish National Allergy and Clinical Immunology Association (AID) Board Member Prof. Dr. Özge Soyer said, “The pollution of the air increases the permeability of the respiratory tract and causes it to be damaged. The use of renewable energy sources and reducing traffic will be one of the most important steps to reduce air pollution.
Today, air pollution is one of the most important problems affecting the health of patients with asthma. Among the main factors that cause air pollution, there are organic wastes from traffic, industry, heating, energy production, animal husbandry, and gases such as ammonia and methane, which are mostly of human origin.
Stating that air pollution increases the frequency of asthma and asthma-related emergency applications, Turkish National Allergy and Clinical Immunology Association (AID) Board Member Prof. Dr. Özge Soyer said, “Today, most of the global energy is obtained from fossil fuels. With the combustion of these fuels, carbon dioxide, methane gas, black carbon, nitrogen oxides and sulfates are released. Such air pollutants increase the permeability of the respiratory tract and cause damage. As a result, it causes sensitivity in the lungs, sputum formation and asthma attack.
Traffic Causes Childhood Asthma!
Emphasizing that traffic-induced air pollution is an important cause of childhood asthma, Pediatric Immunology and Allergy Diseases Specialist Prof. Dr. Özge Soyer explains traffic-induced air pollution as follows:
“Nitrogen dioxide is the most exposed substance in traffic-related air pollution and causes nearly 4 million children (64% living in cities) to be diagnosed with asthma annually. Children exposed to traffic-induced air pollution have more germ-free inflammation caused by asthma. Unfortunately, studies have shown that intense contact with traffic-induced air pollution during prenatal and early childhood causes genetic changes that cause respiratory tract to become allergic. Sitting close to traffic also increases the risk of developing allergic rhinitis/ flu.”
Avoid going outside when the air is polluted.
Underlining that asthma patients should stay away from indoor and outdoor air pollution as much as possible, Prof. Dr. Özge Soyer recommended that asthma patients avoid heavy physical activities in very cold weather or on days when air pollution is intense, keep the windows closed and not go outside unless necessary. "If they have to go outside in polluted weather, they should prefer to wear a mask, always use their medicines regularly and should not leave their breathalyzers with them," said Prof.Dr. Soyer continued:
“The best method to reduce air and environmental pollution is to change existing policies. Using renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuels and stopping the use of coal in industry will be one of the most important steps to be taken for both our world and the future of our children.”
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