In recent news, in addition to reporting how the haze weather has seriously affected our lives, most of them also kindly remind the audience to prevent the occurrence of asthma. What kind of disease is asthma? Why is it so sensitive to air pollution?
What is asthma
Normal people's breathing is slow and long, if shortness of breath difficult, wheezing, shortness of breath, and repeated attacks, is asthma. Asthma often attacks or worsens at night and early in the morning. When asthma occurs, the respiratory tract muscles are strongly contracted and spasmodic, and the inspiratory capacity continues to decline, which will cause severe dyspnea and even life-threatening. Asthma is a common disease. According to the data released by the World Health Organization (who) in 2013, there are about 235 million people suffering from asthma in the world. In terms of density, it is equivalent to that every fully loaded bus may encounter at least one asthma patient. Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease in children. In developing countries, the problem of asthma is particularly serious. About 80% of the world's asthma deaths occur in low - and middle-income countries.
The occurrence of asthma
Asthma is often associated with allergy, which is a chronic respiratory inflammatory disease involving a variety of immune cells and inflammatory factors. In fact, the respiratory tract of asthmatic patients has always been in a state of mild 'inflammation'. Once encountering certain stimulation, it may induce strong asthma symptoms, including:
1. Drugs. Drugs with bronchoconstrictive effects, such as some cardiovascular drugs, may induce asthma attacks. Aspirin and other drugs can promote the secretion of inflammatory substances, may also aggravate asthma symptoms.
2. Obesity. Recent scientific studies have found that obesity may aggravate the symptoms of asthma. Fat accumulation and adipose tissue can also cause a certain degree of inflammatory reaction, which increases the total amount of inflammatory substances and induces asthma.
3. Allergic substances. Some common allergens in life can easily induce asthma, such as dust, hair and mites on bedding, carpets or pets. In outdoor activities, pollen or mold and other allergic substances are also easy to cause asthma.
4. Emotion and exercise. Extreme emotions, such as anger or fear, and physical exercise can also lead to asthma.
Air pollution and asthma
Knowing the relationship between asthma and inflammation, you can probably guess the relationship between asthma and air pollution.
Let's start with the outdoor pollution sources PM2.5 and haze. PM2.5 is a fine particle with particle size less than 2.5 μ m in the air. The main components of PM2.5 are sulfuric acid and sulfate, nitric acid and nitrate, and some organic hydrocarbon particles. When they absorb water and grow up, they form haze. When inhaled, these particles can cause damage to normal lung tissue. This damage can stimulate immune cells, cause immune activation, promote the release of inflammatory factors in the body, and eventually induce asthma. At the same time, these particles are also carriers of other pollutants, which can directly transport some heavy metal elements and organic pollutants to the lung, which can damage lung cells and even cause cancer. At the same time, these particles directly stimulate the bronchi, cause bronchial contraction and cough, and promote the occurrence of asthma.
Let's talk about indoor air pollution, mainly formaldehyde produced by cigarettes and furniture. Some data show that a large number of fine particles will be produced in the process of cigarette combustion, including formaldehyde, tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide and other harmful substances. These substances can also stimulate the lungs and bronchi and induce asthma. The formaldehyde released by indoor furniture is also the cause of asthma. If formaldehyde concentration is higher than 0.1mg/m3, people will feel uncomfortable; if formaldehyde concentration is higher than 0.6mg/m3, it will cause throat discomfort and pain, and then induce asthma.
Air pollution is one of the causes of asthma. So, is there no asthma in the clean air place? In fact, it is not necessarily. The incidence rate of asthma in the countries with good air quality is 8% to 18%, much higher than that in the domestic (2% ~ 4%). This shows that there are many factors influencing asthma. A study conducted in Taiwan, China found that for young girls, indoor smoking, precipitation days, carbon monoxide, PM10 index, exercise, smoking, birthplace (urban / rural), allergic symptoms (rhinitis and eczema) and even parents' education level are all factors influencing the occurrence of asthma; For boys, age, carbon monoxide, ozone, exercise level, birthplace (urban / rural), parents' education level, alcohol consumption and allergic symptoms were the main influencing factors. Therefore, asthma is caused by a variety of reasons, and air pollution is only one of them.
Face asthma
Although asthma is a non fatal chronic respiratory disease, it is difficult to cure under the existing medical conditions. Therefore, proper life management is the best choice to control asthma. The World Health Organization believes that people with persistent symptoms should be treated daily for a long time to prevent the occurrence and aggravation of symptoms. We also give some suggestions on how to deal with asthma correctly.
The patient needs to know the common allergic substances around them and avoid contact with them. At the same time, adhere to the medication according to the doctor's advice.
Glucocorticoids are essential first-aid drugs for patients with asthma, so they should be carried with them when they travel.
Avoid travel in haze weather, or wear masks that can effectively filter fine particles, and take necessary protection.
Strictly prohibit smoking and avoid inhaling second-hand smoke.
When taking medicine when you are sick, you should consult the respiratory doctor to avoid asthma induced by the drugs.
Keep a good mood and avoid over excitement.
With the increase of age, many children diagnosed with asthma in their young age may have symptoms relieved. Even so, the respiratory tract of these adult patients is still very sensitive and needs to be paid enough attention.