Breathing Problems: How to Deal With Volcano Smog
(Vog)
• Do not smoke. Stay away from smoky places.
Secondhand smoke can also bother your
lungs.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Take any regular COPD or asthma medicines
exactly as prescribed.
• Use a paper or gauze surgical mask or dust
mask that covers your nose and mouth. This
may give some protection against lung
irritants found in vog. Wetting the mask with
a baking soda and water solution may give
extra protection.
Vog is volcanic fog or haze. It most commonly
comes from the ongoing eruption of the Kilauea
volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. When
winds are light, vog can cause problems on the
Hilo side of the Big Island. Sometimes it carries
to other islands, including Oahu.
Vog contains particles of pollution and
chemicals such as sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid,
and sulfates. It can irritate your lungs and can
cause breathing problems. If you have chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or
asthma, air pollution such as vog can make your
breathing suddenly get worse. It can make you
cough and have more mucus, and it can cause
you to be short of breath.
Preventing breathing problems
If you have breathing problems that are made
worse by vog:
• Stay indoors, preferably in an air-conditioned
room.
It is hard to breathe deeply when you have
COPD or asthma. However, breathing exercises
can make breathing easier and help keep your
lungs healthy. You can learn to control your
breathing by practicing breathing techniques
every day. Follow your doctor's instructions on
how to do these exercises.
• Pursed-lip breathing is breathing in through
your nose and out through your mouth while
almost closing your lips.
• Diaphragmatic breathing is deep breathing
in which your belly moves, but not your
chest.
• Bending forward at the waist may make it
easier to breathe.
Treating a reaction caused by vog
A severe COPD or asthma flare-up, or
exacerbation, can be a life-threatening
emergency. Try using your quick-relief inhaler
first. If your symptoms do not get better after
you use your medicine, have someone take you
to the emergency room. Call an ambulance if
needed.
After treatment, most people recover.
When to call your doctor
If your COPD or asthma symptoms, such as cough, mucus, and shortness of breath,
suddenly get worse, you may be having a flare-up. Quick treatment may help you
to prevent serious breathing problems and avoid a hospital stay.
If you have severe trouble breathing, call 911 immediately.
Call your doctor immediately if:
• You have shortness of breath or wheezing that is rapidly getting worse.
• You are coughing more deeply or more frequently, especially if you notice an
increase in mucus (sputum) or a change in the color of the mucus you cough up.
• You cough up blood.
• You have increased swelling in your legs or belly.
• You have a high fever (over 100 degrees).
• You feel severe chest pain.
• You develop flu symptoms.
• You notice that your medicine is not working as well as it had been.
• You use oxygen at home and feel like you need more. Use only the amount
recommended by your doctor. In some people with COPD, too much oxygen can
be dangerous.
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of this information, which does not replace medical advice. 2014-09-zu1513