London Air Triggers Asthma: A Young Woman’s Story

For Chloe Fox, a move to London for university turned into a health crisis. Exposure to the city’s air pollution triggered severe asthma attacks, resulting in numerous hospitalizations. Her experience highlights the dangers of poor air quality, especially for those with respiratory conditions.

A Personal Struggle

When she moved to London to study, Chloe Fox’s asthma worsened significantly. Living in Wembley, the constant traffic fumes immediately affected her. She would start wheezing the moment she went outside. Over two years, she was hospitalized frequently due to asthma attacks.

“People don’t realise how serious asthma can be or how badly air pollution can affect it,” Chloe says. “When I first moved to London, I lived in Wembley, where the traffic was constant. I’d start wheezing the moment I stepped outside.

Even now, commuting into London requires caution. Heavy traffic or fumes cause chest tightness and breathlessness. She always carries her reliever inhaler and tries to avoid busy roads. As she stated, “It doesn’t matter how long you’ve had asthma, when it hits, it’s always scary.”

The Bigger Picture

Asthma + Lung UK’s study, which involved 9,387 participants, reveals how air pollution affects lung health. The survey showed that a significant number of individuals with lung conditions are impacted by air pollution. The charity’s findings underscore the urgent need for action to tackle air pollution.

“Air pollution is a public health emergency. It is the biggest environmental threat to human health, contributing to up to 43,000 early deaths in the UK every year.

—Sarah Sleet, CEO at Asthma + Lung UK

One of the key findings reveals that over 70% of those polled indicated that pollution affects or worsens their lung condition. About 22% reported experiencing asthma attacks or flare-ups, while more than half felt breathless due to air pollution. (Source: Asthma + Lung UK)

Recommendations and Advice

For those with lung issues, the advice includes avoiding strenuous outdoor exercise during high pollution, staying away from traffic hotspots, and going out earlier when air quality is better. Asthma + Lung UK advises using preventer inhalers as prescribed and always carrying reliever inhalers.

This situation stresses how important it is to improve air quality. Stricter guidelines and better awareness can protect vulnerable people now and into the future.