From all reports, the air in London is thick with smog due to the heat, the wind, and the increased traffic for the Olympics. Many members of the medical profession have expressed concern for the health of all the Olympic athletes, and it has nothing to do with the risks of sports injuries. Increased exercise can cause a special type of asthma, known as “exercise-induced asthma.”
We know that about one in six Olympic athletes already have this condition, which is also termed exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Either “exercise-induced bronchconstriction,” or “regular” asthma can be triggered or exacerbated by pollutants in the air. (Read more facts by clicking here.) This week we are bringing you Part One of our Special Report: “Beating Smog For The Gold.”
The Attack: Symptoms consist of a sudden onset of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. These symptoms of the exercise-induced respiratory problems can start within 5 to 20 minutes of beginning physical activity, but more commonly, symptoms develop after physical activity has ended.
The Double Threat: Air Pollution can exacerbate the exercise-induced attack, or trigger an attack in lungs unaccustomed to irritation.
The pollutants have terrifying names: ozone, sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide. It is no surprise that these substances can inflame the airways of sensitive people and instigate an asthma attack.
Clifford Bassett, MD, an allergist and medical professor at New York University, stated, “We’re particularly concerned with the outdoor sports, like cycling and running, since they’re more impacted by air quality.”
London is not the first Olympic host city to greet the international teams with bad air. Poor air quality has been a concern in previous years also. Photos of the Beijing 2008 competitions show the Olympic performance areas shrouded in oily veils of yellow-gray smoke.
Reports have noted that London’s air quality is consistently worse than that of other countries in the European Union. Some people charge that London has also done far less to reduce emissions than Beijing did in 2008, though that city started with much worse pollution situation. (You can research more of this conditions of a “perfect storm of smog,” at this source.)
So what possible precautions could any metropolis take?In 2008 China feared so much for the effects of the smog that it banned half the cars from entering the city. China also mandated the closing of hundreds of polluting factories.
East London, where the games are being held, is known to be one of the London’s most polluted districts.
In 2012, London endures the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in any of the 27 European Union capitals. To spare the Olympic athletes from some of the pollution caused by traffic, authorities are encouraging Londoners to keep their cars out of the city, and work from home. (Read more about London air precautions here.)
Here in Orlando, The Florida Lung Doctors recommend the following precautions not only for champions but for any athlete: the runners we see on our Florida beaches, you working out in the gym, Hometown, U.S.A. These steps always help you guard against a bronchosonstriction or asthma attack:
1. Warm-up adequately.
2. Stay hydrated during exercise.
3. Do not forget a careful cool-down to mitigate any respiratory risks.
We of the Florida Lung, Asthma and Sleep Center Specialists sincerely hope that our athletes in the Olympic Games know about the i-phone app we recently showcased in this blog. Click here to take another look at the article about this amazing app. We also hope air quality reports are supported in far away London, because the i-phone app can only be as accurate as the information it receives. “The app reports the quality of the air, so you can check it before you go outside. Of course, warnings to reduce or reschedule physical activity have nothing to do with Olympic schedules. There’s no “app” for that!
Next week Florida Lung Doctors brings you Part Two of this report. We hope you will continue re-visiting our blog because we greatly enjoy bringing you stories about the respiratory research, diseases and treatments, as well as sleep studies. Please share our information on your social networks by clicking a button below. Think about it: the information you “share” could sometimes change a life.