Asthma sufferers warned of acute attacks amid forest fire haze

The Chairman of the Honorary Council of the Indonesian Society of Respirology, Prof Tjandra Yoga Aditama, has said that people with respiratory conditions such as asthma need to anticipate acute asthma attacks when facing exposure to smoke from forest and land fires (karhutla).

“Consult a doctor about the type and dosage of medication. What needs to be anticipated, of course, is an acute asthma attack,” Prof Tjandra told ANTARA in Jakarta on Monday.

Asthma sufferers facing karhutla smoke, Tjandra said, need to use controller inhalers regularly as advised by their doctor.

Asthma sufferers also need to pay attention to the use of reliever medication when necessary, particularly when experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath.

The Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, said that forest fire smoke contains several substances that harm health, such as particles, especially those measuring 2.5 microns, known as PM2.5, which when inhaled trigger inflammation.

According to Tjandra, the health impact of smoke exposure can potentially cause various respiratory disorders. Symptoms to watch out for from karhutla smoke exposure are the same as general respiratory complaints, such as coughing, possibly with phlegm, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

“The acute impact (of karhutla smoke exposure) includes acute respiratory tract infections or ISPA. Further impacts include worsening of lung infections, asthma and other diseases, and can increase the risk of cardiorespiratory disorders,” said the Director of the Postgraduate Programme at YARSI University.

In addition to directly impacting health, Tjandra said, forest fires also disrupt residents’ access to health services in affected areas.

“If forest fires are of high intensity, over a wide area and last quite a long time, they will affect transport in the affected areas, as well as the availability of clean water, communication disruptions and resources too,” he added.

Furthermore, Tjandra said efforts to prevent health risks from karhutla smoke exposure should include avoiding active fires where it is safe to do so.

“Avoid unnecessary travel and use a good mask, even in the form of a respirator if necessary, if you have to go to areas near forest fires,” Tjandra said.