Health gem

If you do one thing this week . . . bring your asthma medication to oxegen

If you have asthma and you are off to Oxegen, don’t forget to bring your medication. Outdoor events can be the setting for asthma and allergy triggers, reminds the Asthma Society of Ireland this week, ahead of the music festival.

“Possible asthma triggers include weather changes, dust, pollen, moulds, air pollutants such as cigarette smoke, aerosols and dry ice, exercise and alcohol, all of which are part of the festival environment,” it states.

Dr Jean Holohan, the asthma society’s chief executive, adds: “People with asthma need to ensure they are prepared, have their asthma under control before they go and know what to do in an emergency.”

Its website offers useful advice, including: bring your inhalers with you; visit your GP or contact the society if you are unsure of how to deal with an emergency; know where the medical tents are; inform your friends you have asthma; ask someone else to put up your tent; and don’t smoke. For more information see asthmasociety.ie