Doctor, doctor: Is traffic giving me chest problems?
This article titled “Doctor, doctor: Is traffic giving me chest problems?” was written by Dr Tom Smith, for The Guardian on Saturday 15th January 2011 00.02 UTCSeveral relatives have asthma, and I am sometimes wheezy, too, though not severely. I live in a city with lots of traffic passing my door day and night. Would I have fewer chest problems if I lived in a less crowded, congested area?
The latest study suggests that a move to the suburbs or the country might help. Swedish researchers looked at links between asthma symptoms and where people worked and lived. They found no relationship between the illness and traffic exposure at work or travelling to and from work, even when commuting times were long. However, living in a traffic-dense area did make a difference, with numbers of cases and their severity rising with traffic density at home. So moving out to a less polluted area may help. However, if your asthma is due to pollens, choose your site carefully – open country isn’t always the best choice. The seaside might be better. I’m concerned that you are “wheezy”, but don’t admit to having asthma. See your doctor for a diagnosis, so you can manage your chest properly.
• Do you have a question for Dr Tom? Email doctordoctor@guardian.co.uk
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010
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