Healthy Lungs this Holiday

Do you or someone in your family have asthma? Check out our list of tips to make your holiday travel go smoothly: http://www.lung.org/about-us/our-impact/top-stories/surviving-the-holidays-guide-for-living-wth-asthma-2013.html

Here are some highlights!

·         Put together an asthma travel pack with all of your medications, instructions, insurance information, and an extra written prescription in one place, and pack it somewhere that won’t get exposed to extreme temperatures on the journey.

·         If you’re flying, pack all your medications in your carry-on. (TSA says you CAN carry on your nebulizer. Find out more at http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/travelers-disabilities-and-medical-conditions).

·         If you’re staying in a hotel and strong scents trigger your asthma, ask them to refrain from putting scented soaps or lotions in your room, and from using scented cleaning products. (And did you know that some hotels now offer rooms that minimize allergens?)

Another thing to keep in mind: we often associate outdoor air pollution as a summertime phenomenon, because hot days foster the formation of smog. However, we can see dangerous levels of air pollution in the winter, too, because wood-burning fireplaces and stoves create particle pollution, or soot. Wherever you're spending this holiday season, check airnow.gov for up-to-date information on air quality in your area. If you have asthma, reduce your activity outdoors on days with high levels of particle pollution.