Less pollution exposure improves asthma symptoms: study

Minimising exposure to pollution may help improve asthma symptoms, according to a new study.
"People who suffer from asthma may think there's not a lot they can do to control their asthma besides properly taking medications and avoiding allergic triggers," researchers said.
According to the research, asthma sufferers can learn lessons about managing their asthma by examining their lifestyle.
Researchers analysed the case of a woman who improved her asthma once she and her doctor determined her bike route to work was taking her on a more polluted route than necessary.
The woman had recently moved from a rural community to a dense urban environment.

She enjoyed biking to work, and her new route took her along streets with lots of traffic.

"This experience shows that allergists can integrate their knowledge of the effects of air pollution into individual patient care, particularly asthma action plans," said pulmonologist Chris Carlsten, senior author of the paper published in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology published by the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
"Air pollution is known to be associated with worsening asthma symptoms, but sometimes changing routines with regard to exposure to air pollution can have a positive effect," said Carlsten.
After the woman's bike route was analysed, it was determined that 70 per cent of her commute was in close proximity to major roadways.

Her doctor recommended an alternate route by which only 15 per cent of her time was within 300 meters of high-traffic roads. By following the new route over the next month, her asthma symptoms improved, researchers said.