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Does Rain Make Asthma Worse

How To Handle Cold

Avoid Things That Make Asthma Worse

The combination of these triggers can spell trouble for someone with asthma, says , an immunologist who studies asthma and works in the immunology department at the UW School of Medicine.

Pepper also has two daughters, Lucy and Izzy, who have suffered from asthma. Shes seen how their symptoms sometimes worsen in the cold.

Recently, Izzy had a cold it was probably some minor virus, but I could see it was starting to tighten up her lungs, Pepper says.

If you or your childs asthma symptoms flare up in cold weather, handle it as you would during any other season: Set up a detailed asthma plan with your primary care provider. For Peppers daughter, this means having both control and rescue inhalers handy. Make sure your child knows to alert you if their symptoms worsen. Symptoms include things like shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing if symptoms are more severe, people may have trouble talking or sleeping and should immediately seek medical help.

How Can I Avoid Thunderstorm Asthma Triggers

Its a good idea to check pollen counts and weather forecasts with these sources:

If a thunderstorm is approaching on a high pollen count day, it is a good idea to:

  • make sure you have your reliever medication with you
  • stay inside a building or a car, especially during the wind gusts before the rain
  • close your doors and windows
  • if an air conditioner is on, set it to recirculate air

Face masks dont protect against the tiny particles that cause thunderstorm asthma.

Best Weather For Asthma

There is no optimal weather condition for people with asthma, but many find that consistency in temperatures and conditions is better for symptoms.

Allergens and pollutants in the air are two of the most significant factors that affect asthma symptoms. Certain types of weather may increase both air pollution and common allergens.

Some people with asthma experience problems in very cold or hot temperatures, which can increase airway irritation. Mild temperatures and low levels of humidity might decrease the risk of airway irritation.

Not only is humidity a problem for people with asthma, but other weather conditions can also lead to symptoms.

The weather conditions most likely to trigger asthma include:

  • Extreme heat: When temperatures climb, pollution levels may also rise, which can trigger asthma symptoms.
  • Cold, dry air: Cold, dry air can irritate the airways and lead to bronchospasm. This often results in common asthma symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, and trouble breathing.
  • Windy conditions: Common allergens, such as pollen, blow around in the wind. Add rain into the mix, and it can lead to an increase in mold spores. Both pollen and mold are common triggers for people with asthma.
  • Rapid changes in temperature: Some people are also sensitive to a quick change in weather conditions, such as heat one day and cold the next.

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How Do I Avoid Wildfire Smoke If I Have Asthma

  • First you should have an emergency plan in place in case you must evacuate your home.
  • Check local air quality reports from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at AirNow.gov. There is also a Fires page at AirNow.gov/fires where you can check a map for smoke and wildfires and find resources. Its important to note that smoke from wildfires can stay in the air for days, even after the wildfire has ended, so monitor air quality daily.
  • If you think wildfire smoke is in the air, stay indoors as much as possible. Keep windows and doors closed. Turn on your air conditioner and set it to recirculate mode be sure to use high efficiency particulate air filters to remove fine particles of smoke that may be in the air.
  • If you spend most of your time in one room, make sure its closed off to outside air. Set up a portable air cleaner to help keep the air clear in that room.
  • Avoid physical activity outdoors where you breathe heavily, forcing you to potentially inhale smoke particles at a faster rate.
  • If you must go outside, make sure you keep your quick-relief asthma inhaler close by in case symptoms arise.

How Weather Affects Asthma

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Certain weather conditions, from extreme heat to extreme cold, from rain to thunderstorms, can prompt an asthma attack. Find out how to manage a weather-related asthma trigger so your asthma symptoms don’t kick in.

While environmental allergens and pollutants such as animal dander, smoke, and pollen can prompt an asthma attack, a change in weather conditions from cold air to humidity and even thunderstorms can do the same.

In people with asthma, the airways become hyper-reactive to allergens such as pollen and irritants such as perfumes, says Stanley Fineman, MD, MBA, an allergist with the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic.

Humidity, temperature changes, and other weather conditions can also can also irritate the airways, according to Dr. Fineman. Temperature changes in the airways can cause inflammation in the airways as well, says Dr. Fineman. For most people, this is not a problem. The nose controls humidity without difficulty. But for people with allergies and asthma, who may breathe air through the mouth more often, irritants, pollutants, and pollen are more of a factor.” Because people with asthma already have inflamed airways, the more severe the asthma, the more likely the weather is to affect them.

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When To Get Medical Care

If you begin to experience asthma symptoms and havent received a diagnosis, speak with a doctor. They can diagnose your condition and recommend treatment based on your symptoms.

If youve already been diagnosed with asthma, continue getting regular checkups from your doctor. This will allow your doctor to monitor your progress and adjust your treatment as necessary.

Why Does My Asthma Get Worse When It Rains And How To Avoid

Rain is essential for humans as well as survival of living being and vegetation on earth. Rainy season is a favorite season for almost everyone, because it comes after hot summer in many parts of world. However, for people suffering from asthma it may be a nightmare. This is because in many asthmatics the symptoms become worse with rain and thunderstorm.

Asthma is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of air passage . Asthma is caused due to genetic inheritance or can be triggered by allergies. Common allergens include pollen, dust, molds, weeds, grass, animal dander etc. Weather change, especially rainy season can also trigger a surge in number of acute bronchospasm cases. Let us know the reasons for worsening of asthma in rainy season among asthmatics.

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Allergies Worse In Or After Rain Allergists Say

Are your allergies worse in or after a rainstorm? If so, that’s completely normal, said Warner Carr, MD, an allergist and fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Rain often washes pollen out of the environment, but first, it bursts pollen particles, spreading allergens farther, Dr. Carr said.

“During a rainstorm, the pollen in your environment gets saturated and fractures, releasing small particles into the air at a much higher concentration,” he explained. “When patients inhale them it causes a syndrome called ‘thunderclap asthma.'”

Then, there’s an allergic reaction in the lungs, causing asthma symptoms, or for those without asthma, allergy symptoms in the upper airways, he said.

Ninety-five percent of people with asthma also have allergies, Dr. Carr said. Rainstorms can produce serious respiratory symptoms for them, so patients should anticipate this, and be prepared with the proper asthma and/or allergy medication.

Besides medical therapies, there are non-medical steps you can take to lessen the effect of rain on your allergies, Dr. Carr said. “Limit your pollen exposure: Roll up the windows in your car or home, run a fan at home to circulate air through your house. When you’re outdoors, pollen is falling on you, so take a shower every night, so you’re not sleeping in what you’re allergic to,” he said.

Who Gets Thunderstorm Asthma

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You could get thunderstorm asthma if you are outside in gusty winds just before a thunderstorm on a day when there is a lot of pollen in the air AND you are allergic to ryegrass pollen.

This includes:

  • people with asthma whose symptoms get worse in springtime
  • people with asthma who are allergic to grass pollen
  • people with asthma who get hay fever in springtime
  • people with springtime hay fever, even if they have not been told they have asthma.

This means people with asthma and springtime hay fever need extra protection to avoid thunderstorm asthma, especially if they are in a region with a lot of grass pollen.

The season for pollen and thunderstorms depends on where you are in Australia. In Victoria and NSW this is usually between September and January.

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How To Treat Thunderstorm Asthma

The primary way to treat thunderstorm asthma is to make sure your asthma is under control. We recommend continuing to take asthma medication as prescribed, even if you dont feel any symptoms. This medication can control inflammation in the airway, which may be triggered by the pollen. If you start to feel symptoms during a thunderstorm, follow your asthma action plan to keep your symptoms from worsening. Those with known allergies can also monitor the pollen count to help prevent a reaction.

If you are struggling with your allergies and asthma, contact our office to schedule an appointment today.

Ways To Manage Asthma In The Summer Heat And Humidity

Often for chronic respiratory conditions, like asthma, prevention of flare-ups is the best treatment. Preventative measures include using air conditioners to reduce humidity and pollution, changing the air condition filter every season, having your rescue inhaler available at all times and using it when there is cough or chest tightness, saysNoha Polack, MD, a pediatrician at Progressive Pediatrics in Union City, New Jersey.

Dr. Poinsett and Dr. Reddy recommend the following steps to manage asthma and avoid triggers during the summer months:

  • Have anasthma action plan that you create with your healthcare provider. This is a very specific document that is based on the numbers when you breathe into a peak flow meter and your symptoms.
  • Monitor your peak flows or your ability to push air out of your lungs based on your action plan.
  • Use your rescue medications as needed for flare-ups and always carry it with you.
  • Follow weather reports that address air quality and pollen counts. When the air quality is poor, avoid spending a lot of time outdoors. The same goes for high pollen count, which is usually in the mornings from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. If you do go outside, take a shower when you go indoors to remove any pollen that may be on your body, clothes, or hair.
  • Usenasal steroid spray andoral antihistamine medicationsregularly to help withseasonal allergies. Or, try saline nasal washes during times of high pollen counts.
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    Hay Fever: Does Rain Make Your Symptoms Worse Expert Explains Why

    Hay fever affects many people around the globe and there are many symptoms to recognise in diagnosing it. Hay fever is usually worse around late March through to September, especially when it is warm, humid and windy. An expert has revealed how a change in weather can make your symptoms worse.

    How Is Thunderstorm Asthma Treated

    Asthma During Rainy Season

    If you are experiencing thunderstorm asthma, follow these instructions.

    If the symptoms are moderate or mild, begin asthma first aid using your asthma reliever inhaler. Also, if you have hay fever preventer medication, such as intranasal corticosteroid sprays or combined intranasal/antihistamine sprays, take as directed.

    If the breathing problems are severe, call triple zero and ask for an ambulance say it is an asthma emergency and begin asthma first aid using your asthma reliever inhaler.

    You should also call triple zero if youre experiencing thunderstorm asthma and you dont have an inhaler.

    If you are with someone who is experiencing asthma symptoms, sit the person upright, stay with them and be calm and reassuring. Follow the instructions above.

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    Who Is At Risk Of Thunderstorm Asthma

    Thunderstorm asthma can affect people of any age. You are more likely to be affected if you:

    • have asthma or have had asthma in the past
    • get seasonal hay fever that is triggered by pollens
    • are allergic to ryegrass pollen
    • have undiagnosed asthma or are affected by pollen without being aware of it

    If none of these apply to you, your risk is low.

    The risk of thunderstorm asthma is highest in adults who are sensitive to grass pollen and have seasonal hay fever .

    Can Weather Affect A Person’s Asthma

    Yes. Weather conditions can bring on asthma symptoms. Some people’s asthma symptoms get worse at certain times of the year. For others, a severe storm or sudden weather change can trigger a flare-up.

    • Cold, dry air is a common asthma trigger and can cause bad flare-ups. That’s especially true for people who play winter sports and have exercise-induced asthma.
    • Hot, humid air also can be a problem. In some places, heat and sunlight combine with pollutants to create ground-level ozone. This kind of ozone can be a strong asthma trigger.
    • Wet weather and windy weather can cause problems, too. Wet weather encourages the growth of mold, and wind can blow mold and pollen through the air.

    If you think weather may be triggering your asthma, work with your doctor to track your symptoms using an asthma symptoms trigger diary. Do you think that your asthma might be triggered by pollen, mold, or other allergens? Ask your doctor about allergy testing.

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    How To Manage Asthma In Rainy Season

    • The asthma patients should avoid every contact with pet animals. They should be kept away from the patient’s bedroom.
    • Keep the damp places like toilets, bathroom free from fungus by cleaning them with bleach, disinfectants, detergents etc.
    • Asthma patients should not skip their medicines. Have a balanced diet with the advice of an expert dietician.
    • Wash all the rugs, pillow covers, bed sheets with warm water.

    Asthma is a chronic disease which can only be controlled with the help of a few essential tips. It is quite possible that during monsoon, asthma patients may suffer difficulties, but, with monsoon precautions for asthma, you can definitely lessen its effect. Consult a doctor and have a medical checkup if needed.

    Are you looking to modify your lifestyle and habits to improve the quality of your life? Answer simple questions related to your Immunity, Fitness, Nutrition, Health and Habits check your health assessment. View More

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    The Good News About Rain And Pollen

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    Did you know pollen counts may actually be higher when its dry? You would expect rain to make plants grow, producing more pollen. So a dry spell would mean less pollen, right? Not really.

    During dry seasons, trees can actually release more pollen.1 There is less moisture in the air to weigh down the pollen grains when the wind blows. This helps more pollen travel farther and more easily.

    Light, steady rain showers can wash the pollen away, keeping it from flying through the air. The humidity that follows helps keep pollen down too. Rain can have a welcome benefit for those with pollen allergies.

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    It’s Not Just The Weather

    Also, many of our community members expressed concern about their difficulties with humidity levels not just attributed to the weather. As an example, showering can cause hot and humid conditions indoors, which can act as a trigger as well. Several members shared how they keep their risk of experiencing an exacerbation down while taking a shower.

    • I use a chair in the shower and try to keep the water temperature at a warm to cool setting.
    • It feels like Im suffocating in the shower, I try to keep the bathroom well ventilated.
    • A long handled brush or sponge is helpful and makes it easier to wash your back and feet and helps expend less energy bending and stretching.

    Whether youve mastered managing moisture and heat in the air, or are still learning to navigate this trigger, you are not alone. Hopefully, some of our community members stories will inspire you to try a few new tricks to help you stay cool, dry and comfortable during these hot, humid, and rainy months!

    Let us know how you handle the humidity and rain during the summer time, and if there are any tips or experiences weve missed!

    Tips To Manage Asthma During Monsoon Season

    Asthma can affect a persons quality of life, knowing the triggers and risk factors can help an individual engage in preventive efforts. It can be managed well by taking regular medications, leading a healthy lifestyle and staying away from allergens. However, monsoon season can trigger an asthma attack, following precautionary measures can lessen the adverse effects of asthma. Seek immediate medical care if symptoms worsen.

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    Articles On Seasonal Allergies

    Do your eyes water on windy days? Are you always stuffy when it rains? That’s no surprise. Weather is a common allergy trigger.

    The connection between your symptoms and the weather depends on what youâre allergic to. Here are a few common triggers:

    • Dry, windy days. Wind blows pollen into the air, causing hay fever. If you have pollen allergies, shut the windows and stay indoors on windy days.
    • Rainy or humid days. Moisture makes mold grow, both indoors and out. Dust mites also thrive in humid air. But if you’re allergic to pollen, humid or damp days are good. The moisture weighs down the pollen, keeping it on the ground.
    • Cold air. Many people with allergic asthma find that cold air is a problem, especially when they exercise outside. It can trigger a coughing fit.
    • Heat. Air pollution is worst on hot summer days. Ozone and smog can be a serious trigger for people with allergic asthma.

    The change of seasons also has a big effect on allergies.

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