Asthma and health

All of the pollutants monitored in Herefordshire can have health effects if in large enough concentrations. Although there is no evidence that pollution from road traffic causes asthma, poor air quality can bring on symptoms to those who have respiratory problems. This is why Herefordshire Council will continue to monitor and review air quality across the county.

Herefordshire Council uses the Met Office’s bands for air quality and its corresponding definition for the effects on health into the following categories:

Index	Banding	Health effect
1-3	Low	Effects are unlikely to be noticed even by individuals who know they are sensitive to air pollutants.
4-6	Moderate	Mild effects, unlikely to require action, may be noticed amongst sensitive individuals.
7-9	High	Significant effects may be noticed by sensitive individuals and action to avoid or reduce these effects may be needed (e.g. reducing exposure by spending less time in polluted areas outdoors). Asthmatics will find that their 'reliever' inhaler is likely to reverse the effects on the lung.
10	Very high	The effects on sensitive individuals described for 'High' levels of pollution may worsen.

You can find the forecast for Herefordshire’s air quality from the National Air Quality Information Archive using Leominster’s site for reference.

If you have asthma or another lung disease, your symptoms are unlikely to change when air pollution levels are 'low' or 'moderate' which, for Herefordshire, is the vast majority of the time. However, your symptoms may get worse when on very rare occasions air pollution reaches 'high' or 'very high', especially if you are elderly.

If this happens and you suffer from asthma, you may need to change your treatment in the usual way. If this doesn't help, consult your doctor.

If you suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems you should:

• Take your medicines, tablets, inhalers etc. with you when leaving the house so that you can take them as prescribed.
• Take your time and do not rush anywhere - walk at a steady pace.
• Avoid areas of high traffic density where pollution levels are likely to be the highest.

If you do not suffer from respiratory problems, consider leaving your car at home to help reduce pollution levels.

In 2004/5, the percentage of Herefordshire’s population reported on the patients’ asthma register was 6.6%. The UK’s National Asthma Campaign gives advice to all asthma sufferers, including information on what to do when there is poor air quality.

Smoking is likely to have a much more serious effect on your health than air pollution. Giving up smoking will cut down your risk of lung and heart disease considerably. It will also make you less vulnerable to the short-term effects of air pollution.

For further information on air pollution visit the Department of Health website.