Easter treats ‘trigger asthma’
EASTER treats such as chocolate eggs, hot cross buns or even taking part in outdoor egg hunts could trigger deadly asthma attacks, experts warned yesterday. People with allergies to wheat, eggs, nuts and dairy products as well as having asthma are being urged to avoid eating chocolate eggs, Simnel cake, which is made with almonds, or hot cross buns which could trigger a reaction. Other popular holiday activities such as outdoor egg hunts could also cause asthma attacks in people who are sensitive to pollen. Research by the charity Asthma UK has revealed that hundreds of people are at risk of being admitted to hospital during the Bank Holiday weekend, allergies.
Data sourced from NHS Digital (England), ISD Scotland and NHS Wales have shown there were an average of 748 emergency admissions for asthma attacks during the four-day celebration between 2014 and 2016.
Asthma affects at least 5.4 million people in the UK, roughly one in 12 adults and one in 11 children. The long-term inflammatory condition causes coughing, wheezing and breathlessness and can also be fatal. Asthma attacks occur every 10 seconds in the UK and three people die from an asthma attack every day.
When sufferers come into due to food and pollen contact with a food allergen, it causes their immune system to overreact and release a chemical called histamine. This causes an allergic reaction which can include red, itchy, watery eyes and nose, sneezing, a scratchy or sore throat and itchy skin. For people with asthma this can then trigger an attack in which the airways tighten, leaving victims wheezing and gasping for breath.
According to data by Asthma UK, an estimated 4.3 million Britons with asthma believe that their symptoms are triggered by pollen. At this time of year many trees are releasing pollen into the air.
Pollen allergies can irritate the nose, eyes and throat causing typical hay fever symptoms such as sneezing, itchy eyes and a runny or blocked nose which can also lead to asthma attacks.
Dr Andy Whittamore, a practising GP and clinical lead of Asthma UK, said: “Lots of people love getting involved in traditional Easter activities, chomping on chocolate eggs and racing around their garden or local park on an Easter egg hunt but Easter could be deadly for some people with asthma. Many people may not realise that trees begin releasing their pollen as early as January, so they may be caught out with hay fever symptoms over the Easter weekend.
Risk
“Taking hay fever medicines, which include antihistamines as well as nasal steroid sprays, not only stops people having hay fever symptoms but could cut their risk of an asthma attack.”
He added: “Asthma UK provides an expert nurse-staffed telephone helpline for people with asthma and is calling for people with the condition to make sure they take their preventer inhaler (usually brown) which will protect them from Easter asthma triggers and could save their life.”
Advice for allergy sufferers includes seeking out “free from” alternatives and making sure they know what to do if they suffer an allergic reaction. Those who are allergic to pollen should take antihistamines and check the pollen forecast.
Currently one in three of the UK population – roughly 21 million people – live with an allergy of some form and the number is increasing at an alarming rate.