Every 10 seconds, someone experiences a potentially life-threatening asthma attack. World Asthma Day (7 May 2024) provides us with a moment to reflect on the impact of air pollution on asthma, a common lung condition that causes breathing difficulties for millions of sufferers.
Asthma attacks are particularly daunting, affecting three out of five asthma patients annually, leading to potential emergency situations that require rapid and effective management. In the UK alone, asthma costs the NHS £1 billion annually, with the troubling statistic of four asthma-related deaths occurring every day - a 25% increase over the past decade. Yet, most of these deaths are preventable.
These concerning statistics emphasise the need for innovative solutions to improve patient outcomes. On World Asthma Day, the Global Initiative for Asthma is rightly stressing the importance of empowering individuals with asthma through education to effectively manage their condition. This is a sentiment Air Aware Labs wholeheartedly endorse.
Research consistently points to air pollution as a significant trigger for asthma exacerbations. Studies have demonstrated the clear link between exposure to outdoor pollutants and increased asthma symptoms, more frequent exacerbations, and overall declining lung function, illustrating the need for patients to comprehend and address short-term air pollution exposure. Conventional asthma management often fails to account for individual exposure variations across different environments.
This is where Air Aware Lab steps in. Our air pollution modelling provides detailed insights into individual air pollution exposure, offering data on specific times and locations where exposure peaks - information that would be very beneficial for people with respiratory conditions such as asthma.
By integrating our technology to track individuals' daily movements, accessible through an upcoming user-friendly health dashboard, Air Aware Labs can provide patients and their doctors with precise data about their personal exposure to air pollutants and strategies for reducing it.
Join us in our mission to prevent asthma attacks and improve respiratory health.
