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.
18 October 2018
The UK's average life expectancy is predicted to increase from 80.8 years to 83.3 years over the next 20 years, according to new research.
[more...]
17 October 2018
Family doctors are being urged to prescribe physical activity for patients living with some of the most common medical conditions.
16 October 2018
Patients with brain tumours lose out on almost £15,000 per year, a new report has revealed.
13 October 2018
Chris Grayling has given his "categorial assurance" to Parliament that a no-deal Brexit will not ground flights in and out of the UK, despite recent warnings from experts that this remains a possibility.
12 October 2018
The rising cost of fuel could force more airlines out of business, the boss of easyJet has warned.
11 October 2018
The image of the boozy backpacker might be a thing of the past as a new study suggests more and more youngsters are shunning alcohol completely.
10 October 2018
The NHS says just one in 10 drinks sold in English hospitals will be sugar-sweetened, as part of its bid to curb rising obesity levels.
09 October 2018
More than 260,000 diabetes patients were put at risk of lasting harm or even death during hospital stays last year due to medication errors, a new report has revealed.
06 October 2018
NHS patients with a specific type of lymphoma will soon be able to access a "game-changing" new treatment, health officials have revealed.
05 October 2018
People living with diabetes are being warned they might be "unwittingly" storing their insulin incorrectly.
04 October 2018
The world's first commercial jet part-powered by a new form of biofuel touches down in London on Wednesday (3rd October).
03 October 2018
New 'hotel-style' carriages that were due to be rolled out for the Caledonian Sleeper have been delayed until next year.