Asthma is a disease that makes it difficult for your lungs to receive air. Symptoms of asthma can include difficulty breathing (with or without activity), tightness in the chest, difficulty sleeping (symptoms get worse at night), wheezing and a persistent cough. Asthma has many triggers.
However, these triggers are slightly different in urban areas (cities) than in suburban locations.
However, these triggers are slightly different in urban areas (cities) than in suburban locations.
Road to improved health
Urban asthma is associated with the types of air pollution commonly found in cities. This includes:
car exhaust
tobacco smoke
smoke stacks
debris from street cleaners
heat and natural gases trapped between tall buildings and concrete
smell of restaurant food
cockroaches
mice and rats.
If you have asthma and spend a lot of time in the city (at work or at home), there are things you can do to reduce your exposure to triggers:
Take your medicine If you have asthma, follow your doctor's advice for the use of your prescription medication. Medications for asthma include maintenance medications (taken daily to keep asthma under control) and fast-acting medications (usually in the form of an inhaler to provide immediate relief when you have an asthma attack).
Follow your written asthma action plan. Your doctor will write this for you. It is a plan for you. Consider its symptoms and triggers. It will include information about your medication, tips to avoid asthma triggers, and what to do if you have an asthma attack.
Check air quality The air quality index (AQI) tracks air quality on a daily basis. It tells you how clean or contaminated your air is, and what associated health effects may be troubling you. Avoid being outside when the air quality is worse.
Take a taxi, a car or public transport during times of poor air quality. While walking is easy in the city, it allows you to spend more time outdoors and exposed to the triggers of asthma.
Use the elevator instead of the stairs if your asthma is swelling. The stairs are good for exercising. However, when asthma symptoms start, climbing the stairs can make things worse. The same is true for any activity. Talk to your doctor about using your medication as a preventive aid for times when you will be physically active.
Keep your office and home as clean as possible of mice, rats and cockroaches.
Do not smoke Avoid designated areas for smoking outside of the office and residential buildings. Some smokers gather near entrances to buildings. Find an alternative entrance or exit to your building.
Talk to your employer to see if you can work from home on days when the air quality is worse. If your work can be done from home at some time, it never hurts to ask.
Things to consider
An asthma attack can occur when your symptoms get out of control and you have trouble breathing. An attack can vary in severity. A mild attack can make it hard to concentrate on your work and enjoy activities. A more severe asthma attack can send you to the emergency room. A severe and untreated asthma attack can potentially lead to death. Therefore, knowing and avoiding your personal triggers is the best way to prevent an asthma attack.
Be sure to keep your fast-acting medication with you at all times. This may require asking your doctor to provide more than one prescription. Use it when you feel asthma symptoms. This can slow down and even prevent your symptoms from getting worse. Sometimes this medicine is called your "rescue inhaler."
Questions to ask your doctor
Why does air quality get worse in urban areas?
Is the air quality worse during certain times of the year?
Should I cover my mouth and nose if I am more sensitive to the triggers of urban asthma?
How can I avoid strong smells (like perfume or cologne) when I work in an urban area with lots of people in small spaces and elevators?