In Australia, one of the most common problems is that of bushfire; when the stifling heat creates conditions that make it very easy for areas of woodland to catch fire. These bushfires can obviously be extremely hazardous both to individual safety and the natural areas of parts of the country. But now it seems that bushfires might be playing an important role in the wellbeing of thousands of people too.
A natural side effect of bushfire is the swarm of smoke that it pushes out into the atmosphere. The fumes will never be good for you, no matter your health. But for sufferers of asthma, smoke from bushfires can cause very serious problems. In fact, recent bushfires in Tasmania have prompted authorities to urge asthmatics to take protection against the high levels of smoke in the air.
Millions of people, a majority being children, suffer with asthma across the world. The disease causes the airways of the lungs to narrow, which can make it very difficult for the sufferer to breathe. However, we still don’t fully understand exactly what can cause the problem. We do know that smoke is one of the most common ‘triggers’ that can cause asthmatic people to suffer the symptoms or even an asthma attack.
Smoke can trigger problems such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness or shortness of breath. Children and the elderly are, of course, the most vulnerable but this type of asthma can affect anyone. If you are in a region that is prone to bushfires, or are planning a holiday to Australia soon, it is worth staying up-to-date on the conditions.
If you are in the region when a bushfire occurs, the best advice is to stay indoors and to keep the windows and doors closed. Air conditioners should be set to recycle the clean air in the house, and physical activity should be kept to a minimum.
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