Clouds of Saharan dust blown in by Hurricane Ophelia could trigger a deadly asthma attack, experts warn
ASTHMA sufferers could suffer a deadly attack as clouds of Saharan dust swirl in carried by Hurricane Ophelia, experts have warned.
A thick blanket turned the sun a deep red colour and the sky an eerie yellow - as people with respiratory problems are urged to stay indoors.
Asthma UK advises that anyone with asthma should be aware that weather conditions can worsen their symptoms, which include shortness of breath and wheezing.
Cold weather, thunderstorms, air pollution and dust can all trigger an attack.
Sonia Munde, head of Asthma UK's helpline, told The Sun Online: "We are deeply concerned about the toxic air from Saharan dust that Hurricane Ophelia has churned up, as this could pose a severe risk for the 5.4 million people in the UK who have asthma.
"Winds picking up dust and particles in the air could trigger potentially fatal asthma attacks.
"When a similar dust storm happened in April 2014, Asthma UK found a third of people told us they’d had an asthma attack as a result of the pollution and 84 per cent said they had used their blue inhaler more than usual.
"We urge anyone with severe asthma to check weather forecasts and stay indoors where possible.
"Everyone with asthma must make sure they take their reliever inhaler [usually blue] everywhere with them and continue to manage their asthma with their preventer inhaler [usually brown]."
If you notice your symptoms getting worse you should stay indoors when possible, change your clothes and have a shower when you get home to wash any triggers of yourself, have your reliver inhaler handy to manage symptoms and use your preventer inhaler to ward off your symptoms.
You should also avoid exercising outside as it may make it harder for you to breathe.
If you notice your symptoms getting worse you should speak to a GP.
But the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) air pollution forecast for the UK over the coming days is low and no air pollution alerts are currently in place.
Air pollution has a range of effects on health including heart and lung damage, breathing difficulties and it has even been linked to cancer.
The Defra air pollution index ranges from one to ten, with one to three considered a low risk.
According to the World Health Organisation air pollution is a major risk to health.
It is often caused by exhaust fumes from cars, domestic combustion or factory smoke but is not thought to be associated with dust clouds.
When the risk reaches anywhere between seven and 10 people are advised to avoid strenuous activity and exercising outside, particularly children and the elderly.
Hurricane Ophelia has drawn Saharan dust north to the UK, making the sun appear red this morning.
SUN-SATION Why Hurricane Ophelia has turned the sun red in the UK as storm lashes Britain and Ireland
Met Office forecaster Grahame Madge said the former hurricane is pulling air and dust up from southern Europe and Africa.
He said: "It's all connected with Ophelia, on the eastern side of the low pressure system air is coming up in the southern direction.
"Air is being pulled from southern Europe and Africa and that air contains a lot of dust."
A LUNG CONDITION THAT CAUSES BREATHING DIFFICULTIES
Asthma affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood, although it can also appear for the first time in adults.
It is caused by inflammation of the breathing tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs.
This inflammation makes the breathing tubes highly sensitive, so they temporarily become narrow.
This may occur randomly, or after exposure to a trigger like dust, pollen, smoke and even exercise.
Symptoms:
The main symptoms include
- wheezing
- breathlessness
- a tight chest
- coughing
Symptoms can sometimes get temporarily worse, this is known as an asthma attack.
Treatment
There is no known cure for asthma but the symptoms can be managed with a number of treatments.
Most asthma treatments are taken using an inhaler, a small device that delivers a spray or powder medicine to your breathing tubes as you breathe in.
The main treatments are:
- avoiding potential triggers
- reliever inhalers – inhalers used when needed to quickly relieve asthma symptoms for a short time
- preventer inhalers – inhalers used every day to reduce the inflammation in the breathing tubes
Source: NHS Choices
Dubbed the 'hurricane sun', the unusual sight has been spotted by those on the south coast.
The most affect areas in the South West, include Devon, Cornwall, Bristol and Somerset.
It has even been seen as far north as Manchester and Liverpool.
It is not the first time a cloud of red dust has hovered over the UK,
In 2015 the Defra issued alerts for most of England and Wales warning asthma sufferers, the elderly and people with breathing difficulties to avoid going outside as a cloud of Saharan dust descended.
Asthma UK offers a helpline for people with concerns. The number is 0800 121 6244.
They also offer support at
