Volcanic Ash Could Cause Respiratory Problems

Tamiflu is only designed to treat the swine flu virus and other flu viruses

There is a theory being bandied around by respiratory disease experts that should the volcanic ash coming from Iceland start to fall all over Europe it could cause serious respiratory problems. The concern is especially acute for those with existing respiratory problems like asthma. It is also known that poor quality air can make the likelihood of suffering from influenza greater and also make it more difficult for you to recover fully.

At present there are no reports that the air towards the ground in the United Kingdom has been affected by the volcanic ash (except in some areas of northern Scotland). In other parts of the globe where there have been many volcano eruptions the air quality has suffered considerably when the ash started to descend. It is hoped that the volcanic ash will disperse naturally into the environment and cause no serious breathing problems.

Another thing to consider is that the ash might start to mimic the symptoms of influenza like being bunged up and having a sore throat. It is important therefore that people don’t immediately reach for influenza drugs like Tamiflu or Relenza if there is a lot of volcanic ash in the air and instead make sure they get proper medical advice.

It is essential to remember that Tamiflu is only designed to treat the swine flu virus and other flu viruses and will not treat bacterial lung infections which would need to be remedied with antibiotics.

It might be worth considering that if you are already an asthmatic or you have some form of respiratory problems you should take extra care over the next few weeks. The volcanic ash is unlikely to cause breathing problems in the UK but there’s no harm in taking extra precautions like always making sure you have your inhaler with you.