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Exposure to Air Pollution Increases Hospitalizations in COPD Patients
Short- and long-term exposure to air pollution in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other respiratory diseases can lead to increased risk of hospitalizations. That is according to “Acute and Chronic Effects of Particles on Hospital Admissions in New-England,” a study published in the journal PLos ONE on April 17, 2012.
While many studies have reporting significant associations between exposure to particle pollution, also known as particulate matter (PM), and hospital admissions, few have studied the effects of short-term exposure to these pollutants. In an effort to uncover the effects of both short- and long-term exposure to PM on hospital admissions, researchers used novel prediction models for exposure to air pollutants and compared to hospital admissions across New England for all residents aged 65 and older.
Regression analyses were compiled for various admission types, including all respiratory, cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke and diabetes. Daily admission counts in each zip code were regressed against short- and long-term PMexposure, temperature, socio-economic data and a spline of time to control for seasonal trends in baseline risk.
Researchers found that for every 10-µg/m3 increase in short-term exposure to particle pollution, hospital admissions increased by 70 percent. Further, for every 10-µg/m3 increase in long-term exposure, hospitalization increased by 4.22 percent. The study also linked particle pollution to reduced lung function, pulmonary inflammation and oxidative stress.
For people living with COPD, reducing exposure to air pollution is an important step in managing the disease. About.com - COPD suggests taking the following steps to limit exposure:
- Pay attention to weather alerts and stay indoors when air quality is poor.
- Use a particle mask to filter the air when time spent outdoors is unavoidable.
- Reduce or eliminate exposure to fireplaces or wood-burning stoves.
- Be proactive in improving your indoor air quality.
- Avoid using gas-powered lawn or gardening equipment.
- Avoid exposure to burning trash, leaves or other matter.
- Plan your day so you take fewer trips in your car.
Click Here to Access the Full Study From the Journal PLoS ONE.
Combat Allergy Season
For the 36 million Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies, the time has come to close the windows and stock up on tissues. That’s right, allergy season is here. However, for those people living with chronic lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and emphysema—especially those who also suffer from seasonal allergies—allergy season can bring a number of serious complications that many others do not experience.
Unfortunately, climate change has made allergy season longer than ever before, while the increase in temperature has also caused pollen-producing plants to grow and prosper at exponential rates. Further, the combination of pollution and pollen in the air that we breathe has caused allergens to invade the body more aggressively than in the past.
However, the good news is that steps can be taken to protect you from trouble-causing allergens.
The first step is to avoid allergens. Before leaving the house, check the forecast for your area’s pollen, mold spore and ozone levels. Sites such as the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology or the public-service organization AirNow are good sources for this information. If the Air Quality Index is above 150 (100 for those who are allergy- or asthma-prone), stay inside as much as possible. Also, be sure to keep the windows closed on these days, to prevent allergens from coming in.
When you’ve been outdoors, it’s a good idea to change clothes as soon as you enter your house. That way, you won’t track pollen and dust throughout your house. Sunglasses can also protect you, as they block your eyelashes and eyelids from attracting pollen.
Further, take an antihistamine at the first sign of a sniffle. Even nonprescription medications can relieve most people’s symptoms. If these over-the-counter medications don’t do the trick, see your doctor for allergy testing. Typically, a skin test can determine what’s causing your allergies so that you can get the best course of treatment. These include prescription antihistamines and steroid nasal sprays. For a permanent solution, allergy shots are also available.
To ensure that breathing complications do not arise as a result of allergy season, talk with your doctor about additional preventative measures that can be taken. You can never be too prepared when it comes to you and your health.
Early Exposure to Tobacco Smoke May Increase Risk of COPD in Women
Children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) have more than double the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) later in life, according to a recent study published in the journal Respirology.
Researchers, led by Ane Johannessen, PhD, of Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway, came to this conclusion after examining data from the Bergen COPD Cohort Study, which was conducted from 2006 to 2009. Their analysis included 433 patients with COPD and 325 without, ages 40 to 79. All patients underwent spirometry and completed questionnaires about respiratory symptoms and risk factors associated with COPD.
Overall, 61% of patients and controls reported being exposed to ETS for at least one year of their childhood. In addition, those patients with COPD had a smoking history of more than 10-pack years.
After thorough analysis, researchers found that women who were exposed to ETS as children were nearly twice as likely to develop COPD later in life compared to those who were not exposed. This relationship did not reach statistical significance among men. However, early-life exposure to tobacco smoke in men was associated with greater odds of developing certain COPD-related symptoms, such as morning cough, cough with phlegm and chronic cough.
Other predictors of COPD among women included occupational dust or gas exposure, family history, and lower educational achievement. Family history was also associated with all respiratory symptoms, while current exposure to tobacco smoke in the home was associated with morning cough, and lower educational achievement was associated with dyspnea.
“Although active smoking is still the most important risk factor for COPD, reduction of childhood ETS exposure could contribute to the prevention of COPD and respiratory symptoms,” wrote the researchers.
Protecting Yourself from Cold Air
For people living with emphysema, chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cold air may worsen symptoms. That is because breathing in cold, dry air causes the airways to narrow, therefore restricting airflow in and out of the lungs and making it more difficult to breath. However, these symptoms can be reduced. According to an online news story from the Mayo Clinic, a number of steps can be taken to reduce the effect of cold air on breathing.
For example, wearing a cold-air face mask when you are outside can protect you from the cold air. Breathing in through your nose instead of your mouth can also help humidify the air before it enters your lungs. Using a humidifier when at home is also a good option. Finally, by using your bronchodilator 30 minutes before going outside you will open constricted airways and prepare your lungs for the cold.
Preparing for Flu Season
For people living with emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), flu season can be a particularly stressful time. When paired with the flu or a respiratory infection, breathing troubles brought on by these conditions can multiply, and obstructed and inflamed airways can make even the simplest tasks difficult to perform. Airway obstructions also increase the chance of such bacterial infections as pneumonia, because the body is unable to cough up infected mucus.
The good news is that there are several ways to prevent the flu, including staying up to date with the latest flu vaccine. While the best time to get a flu shot is at the beginning of flu season, in October or November, you can get the shot as late as January and still protect yourself from the virus. Encouraging your friends, family and co-workers to get flu shot is also recommended, as it will ensure that you are not surrounded by people who are sick with the flu.
In addition to receiving the flu vaccine, the following tips will reduce your chances of contracting the flu virus:
- Avoid crowds during cold and flu season.
- Wash your hands regularly throughout the day.
- Quit smoking, as it could make you more susceptible to contracting the flu. Studies have shown that more smokers contract the flu than nonsmokers, and when they do they have a more severe infection and a higher risk of dying from the flu.
- Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you for times when a sink isn’t available and disinfectant wipes to clean any surfaces you are about to touch, such as shopping carts or door knobs.
- Take extra care not to touch your mouth, eyes or nose without first washing your hands.
- Ask your doctor about the pneumococcal vaccination, which helps prevent a certain type of pneumonia.
If these prevention methods do not work for you, be sure to contact your doctor with the first signs of flu symptoms. Antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu may decrease the severity of flu symptoms if taken within the first 48 hours.
