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Urgent health warning for millions as orange skies engulf parts of UK
AN urgent warning has been issued to millions as orange Saharan dust hits parts of the UK today.
Dust particles in the air could trigger deadly health emergencies for Brits, after the murky skies swept over Europe.
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The Met Office tweeted this morning: "We can see the #SaharanDust that has pushed across Spain and France, into southeast England.
"Whilst this #dust is mostly about 2km above ground level, some deposits may fall to the ground, especially during today's rain in southern parts of the UK."
have shown that while millions won't be affected, dust storms can have a significant impact on health for some.
Dust storms are a source of natural particles, including very small materials, potential allergens, and pollutants - they can be dangerous for people with lung conditions such as asthma and other allergies.
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These storms distribute millions of particles through the air and increase the amount of particles above the allowable threshold for human health.
BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood warned yesterday it was on the way to southern parts of the UK.
"There has been very poor air quality today in parts of Spain, and it could well affect us in the southeast and East Anglia on Wednesday", she said.
Experts at Asthma UK have warned that extreme weather events can trigger deadly asthma attacks for the 5.4 million sufferers in the UK.
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They said that changes in weather, thunderstorms, hot and cold weather can all be dangerous.
There are two reasons that thunderstorms can trigger asthma attacks, they said.
"The air before a storm can feel very humid and close. Some people tell us this gives them a tight chest and a cough, and that they find it harder to breathe.
"During pollen season, the windy conditions during a thunderstorm blow lots of pollen high into the air.
"The moisture higher up in the air breaks the pollen into much smaller pieces.
"As these smaller pieces of pollen particles then settle back down, they can be breathed in, irritating the smaller airways of the lungs", they added.
Top tips if storms trigger your asthma
If storms make your asthma worse, then there are things you can do to prevent an attack.
- take your preventer inhaler regularly
- carry your reliever inhaler
- go for regular asthma reviews
- book an extra appointment with your doctor or nurse if you notice you're using your inhalers more
- try and stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed to avoid letting the dust in
- take usual treatments such as antihistamines
Dr Andy Whittamore clinical lead at Asthma UK said: “Saharan dust could pose a serious risk to the 5.4 million people in the UK with asthma.
"Dust and other types of air pollution are a well-known trigger for people with asthma.
"Toxic air can leave people struggling for breath and can cause wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and even a life-threatening asthma attack.
“People with asthma must make sure they carry their reliever inhaler (usually blue) with them at all times in case their symptoms worsen.
"We also advise people with asthma to continue to manage their condition with their preventer inhaler (usually brown) as this will help to reduce the inflammation in their airways and make them less likely to react to asthma triggers."
According to Asthma UK, just under two thirds of people with the condition report that poor air quality makes their symptoms worse.
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Other parts of the country will be cloudy with showery rain turning heavier across some eastern areas.
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There will also be a few brighter, warmer spells focused in south-western areas.
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