Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
22 June 2011 09:23
Long-term exposure to air pollution may lead to poorer asthma control
People with asthma who travel regularly to Mexico City or other places linked with air pollution may be interested in new research that suggests long-term exposure to particulate matter makes it difficult to manage the condition.
French scientists carried out a study to look at how the presence of particulate pollutants, nitrous oxide and ozone levels affects asthma sufferers' ability to control their condition.
The team surveyed more than 480 patients about the severity of their condition, use of medicines and hospital visits.
The disease management information was then assessed against air quality data, obtained from the French Institute of the Environment, in the area where the participants lived.
Findings published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health show people exposed for longer periods to higher levels of ozone and particulate matter had poorer control over their condition.
It suggests greater precautions and a good medical travel insurance policy will be useful for asthma sufferers visiting places known to have poor air quality.
Volunteers in the study were classified into three groups, with 44% having well-controlled asthma, 29% with partially controlled and 27% with uncontrolled asthma.
Uncontrolled asthma includes symptoms such as being woken up in the night with shortness of breath, using quick-acting inhalers a lot, using steroids to control asthma and going to hospital with symptoms.
23 September 2016
Theresa May is being urged to give the go-ahead for flights to resume between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh by the head of the cross-party parliamentary group on Egypt.
[more...]
22 September 2016
Budget airline Jet2.com is to open its first base in the south of England at Stansted.
21 September 2016
Smoking rates have dropped to the lowest level on record in England, new figures show, suggesting messages about the health effects of cigarettes are hitting home.
20 September 2016
Concerns have been raised over flight disruptions caused by heavy drinking among passengers.
17 September 2016
British Airways' decision to launch direct flights from London to Tehran earlier this month positions Iran as one of the hottest destinations to visit in 2017, according to experts.
16 September 2016
More than 100 flights have been cancelled as French air traffic controllers go on strike again.
15 September 2016
Two thirds of MPs would support an expansion at Heathrow.
14 September 2016
TripAdvisor is launching a new homepage, making the booking of holiday activities and tours even easier.
13 September 2016
Travellers are to be charged to use fast lanes to get through passport checks in an attempt to cut queues.
09 September 2016
People travelling to regions affected by the Zika virus outbreak should practise safe sex for at least half a year upon their return, health leaders say.
08 September 2016
British Airways is apologising to passengers for delays after an IT glitch hit check-in systems.
07 September 2016
Tiny particles that are breathed in and taken into the brain through air pollution could trigger Alzheimer's disease, research finds.