All posts tagged: asthma

5 key summer asthma triggers – and how to manage them

5 key summer asthma triggers – and how to manage them

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the Well Enough newsletter with Harry Bullmore for tips on living a healthier, happier and longer life Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore Get the Well Enough email with Harry Bullmore As the weather warms up and we spend more time outside, it’s important for people with asthma to be mindful of the subtle seasonal triggers that might set off their symptoms. Ahead of World Asthma Day (May 5), we spoke to Karen Spillett, deputy head of health advice at Asthma + Lung UK, who has outlined five key summer asthma triggers to be aware of, and has also shared an abundance of useful tips on how to manage them. 1. Hot weather “Warmer weather can cause people’s airways to narrow, which can bring on asthma symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath,” says Spillett. 2. Thunderstorms Thunderstorms can also trigger your asthma, causing asthma attacks and making symptoms like breathlessness, wheezing and coughing worse, according to Asthma + Lung UK’s website, which is sometimes called thunderstorm asthma. “This doesn’t affect …

High PFAS exposure in pregnancy linked to childhood asthma

High PFAS exposure in pregnancy linked to childhood asthma

Published by skeptic

A large Swedish study has identified a notable association between PFAS exposure during pregnancy and a higher risk of childhood asthma, adding weight to growing concerns about the long-term health effects of these persistent chemicals. Lund University researchers analysed data from more than 11,000 children born in Blekinge, Sweden, between 2006 and 2013, focusing on a population affected by one of Europe’s most significant drinking water contamination events. The findings suggest that while low to moderate exposure showed no clear impact, very high levels of PFAS exposure may substantially increase asthma risk in children. Annelise Blomberg, a researcher in occupational and environmental medicine at Lund University, explained: “We saw a clear link between very high PFAS exposure and a higher incidence of asthma. “The risk of developing asthma was around 40% higher among children of mothers with very high PFAS exposure.” The dangers of PFAS PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial processes and consumer products. They are found in everything from non-stick cookware and food packaging to firefighting …

Teen convicted of manslaughter after asthma inhaler DNA matched to crime scene cigarette butt | UK News

Teen convicted of manslaughter after asthma inhaler DNA matched to crime scene cigarette butt | UK News

Published by Sam Flores

A 19-year-old has been convicted over a fatal stabbing after police matched DNA on a cigarette found at the scene to that on his asthma inhaler. Ali Abdul Basit was convicted at the Old Bailey on Friday for his role in killing Michael Patrick Afonso Peixoto, 27, Metropolitan Police said. Basit’s conviction followed a two-year investigation, after he fled to Pakistan. Mr Peixoto was attacked in Thornton Heath in south London on 19 December 2023, police said. A group of men in a white BMW were seen waiting in the road when Mr Peixoto arrived with a friend in a Vauxhall Grandland on the night of the killing. The 27-year-old father was stabbed multiple times with a knife after he stepped out of the car, including once in the chest as he attempted to climb back in. Image: Michael Patrick Afonso Peixoto. Pic: Metropolitan Police The victim’s friend was threatened with a knife and forced out of the car. The vehicle was later found abandoned nearby. Mr Peixoto was found by police officers on the …

New discovery can predict asthma attacks with high accuracy

New discovery can predict asthma attacks with high accuracy

Published by Jenni Sidey

Breathing can feel normal for weeks, then suddenly turn into a race for air. That uncertainty is one of the hardest parts of living with asthma. Even when symptoms seem quiet, an attack can still arrive fast, sending you to urgent care or worse. A new study from researchers at Mass General Brigham and Karolinska Institutet suggests doctors may be closer to predicting those dangerous flare-ups before they happen. The research points to a blood-based signal that forecasted future asthma exacerbations with high accuracy, and sometimes separated high- and low-risk groups by almost a year in the timing of a first attack. Asthma ranks among the most common chronic diseases worldwide and affects more than 500 million people, the researchers said. Asthma exacerbations, often called asthma attacks, drive much of the illness burden and healthcare cost. Yet clinicians still lack reliable biomarkers that can flag which patients face a high risk of serious attacks. Many current tools struggle to tell the difference between someone who is stable and someone who only looks stable. Study workflow. …

The best humidifiers for more comfortable air, tested at home

The best humidifiers for more comfortable air, tested at home

Published by Sam Flores

Indoor air that’s too dry can irritate skin, cause asthma symptoms, sore throats and even cracked lips. Adding moisture back with a humidifier may help. They’re useful in summer, when fans and air conditioners dry the air, and winter, when heating and dehumidifiers do the same. I know how shifts in temperature can leave my son’s skin feeling uncomfortably dry (not to mention my own), so I’m always looking for ways to manage ot. I tested 10 of the most popular humidifier brands, including Dyson, Humio and Meaco, to see if they’d help. Incidentally, my house plants have flourished thanks to the added moisture in the air. Prices vary from about £60 to nearly £700, depending on the device you choose. You can read my reviews further down, followed by some advice on how to use humidifiers. Here’s a quick look at my top five: The best humidifiers: At a glance JUMP TO REVIEWS How to choose the best humidifier “Many adults suffering with asthma, eczema or allergies choose to buy humidifiers,” says Dr Semiya …

GLP-1 Drugs Help Quell Asthma Among Teens Who Are Overweight or Obese

GLP-1 Drugs Help Quell Asthma Among Teens Who Are Overweight or Obese

Published by Sam Flores

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterFRIDAY, Jan. 2, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Severe asthma attacks can be cut in half among teens with excess weight by taking cutting-edge weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound, a new study says. Half as many teens needed asthma treatment at an emergency room if they were on a GLP-1 drug, researchers reported Dec. 29 in JAMA Network Open. “Our findings suggest a potential dual benefit for this population, where a single class of medication could address both weight management and lower risk for asthma exacerbation, thereby potentially reducing the burden of two common and interconnected chronic conditions,” concluded the research team led by Dr. Lin-Shien Fu, chief of pediatric nephrology and immunology at Taichung Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan. For the study, researchers tracked 1,070 kids aged 12 to 18 who were overweight or obese and also had a diagnosis of asthma. Half had been prescribed a GLP-1 drug.  Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs mimic the GLP-1 hormone, which helps control insulin and blood sugar levels, decreases appetite and slows digestion …