Summer can be a difficult season for people with asthma. The heat and humidity can affect airways, with the hot air causing them to tighten and narrow. This can trigger symptoms such as wheezing, breathing difficulty, shortness of breath, and other symptoms that increase the likelihood of asthma attacks.
Similarly, humid air is not only heavy and hard to breathe in, but it can trap irritants and allow allergens such as dust mites and mold to thrive and diminish air quality, triggering asthma symptoms. This effect occurs regardless of the type of asthma a person has. If a person has allergic asthma, they may find managing their asthma to be especially difficult in the summer. The same is true if a person has exercise-induced asthma and tends to be more active during the summer.
Asthma symptoms are usually more common in the fall and winter; however, summer creates unique risks as there are more causes of summer asthma. Causes of summer asthma symptoms include:
- Having asthma means the lungs are sensitive to extreme heat. Breathing in hot air can aggravate airways and trigger symptoms. Becoming dehydrated can cause a person to breathe more rapidly than normal, which can also play a role in setting off symptoms.
- Ozone is a product of atmospheric chemicals and sunlight. Although more research is needed to discount statistical uncertainty and better assess adult lung function in response to different levels of exposure, many researchers believe this pollutant can exacerbate asthma, especially in children. This is based on studies that show lung function worsens in the days after ozone levels peak, affecting people with asthma and even people without it.
- If you have allergic asthma and are triggered by certain allergens that are especially prevalent in June, July, and August, it stands to reason you’re more likely to have asthma attacks during these months.
- March through June: tree pollen is high
- May through early June: grass pollen is high
- June: outdoor mold spores peak and decrease after the first frost
- August through the first frost: weed pollen is high (daily peaks around noon)
- Whether it is a small campfire or a raging wildfire, exposure to smoke is more likely in the summer months. Smoke carries fine particulate matter that can get into a person’s airways and have a major impact on asthma.
If you have a history of worsened asthma in the summer, an asthma healthcare provider will work with you to create a seasonal action plan, which may include incorporating additional medications and/or lifestyle measures into your overall management measures.
It is key to head into summer with your asthma well under control. It is not under control if:
- You use a rescue inhaler more than twice a week
- Asthma symptoms interrupt sleep more than twice a month
- You need a new rescue inhaler more than twice a year
Avoiding allergens altogether may be difficult, especially if you enjoy being outside in warm weather. In addition to following your prescribed treatment plan, this may involve taking some special precautions in the summertime, including:
- Checking the pollen counts for your area
- Staying indoors and/or limiting outdoor activities on days with extreme heat, high humidity, high pollen counts, wildfire smoke days, thunderstorm warnings, and ozone alert days
- Showering after outdoor activities
- Not letting dust accumulate in your home
- Using a dehumidifier and an air conditioner
- Considering immunotherapy
It is important to follow your asthma action plan, try to avoid triggers, and stick to the asthma medication regimen prescribed by your healthcare provider. These steps may include taking daily asthma controller medication to prevent asthma symptoms and rescue medications to treat acute symptoms.
If your asthma symptoms are becoming difficult to deal with, you can visit Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 206-7001.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.