Can the weather affect your asthma?


Asthma is a condition that affects a person's breathing. It can result in wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Asthma attacks can range from mild to very severe attacks that have a profound effect on a person's everyday quality of life. Because the causes of asthma are so various (respiratory infections, pollutants, mould, weather conditions, and the list goes on) it is important to try and figure out what your individual asthma triggers are.

What causes asthma in one person might not be a big deal for another person, and thus the solutions that abate symptoms for one person will also be ineffective with another person. If you suffer from asthma at certain times of the year more than others, weather conditions could well be a strong trigger for you. Unfortunately, it is not just cold, dry air, it is not just humid days, and it is not just wet and windy weather that can trigger asthma. In fact, all of these varying types of weather can be triggers in different asthma sufferers. If you want your asthma symptoms to abate, it is important to take note of when you suffer from asthma the most in order to be able to find the most appropriate solution.

Here's why certain weather conditions might trigger asthma and what you can do about it.

Hot and humid weather

Australian summers can be extremely hot and sticky, and for many asthma sufferers, this is very bad news. Studies have found that the humidity in the air might cause your asthma to be more severe because heat stress affects the physiology of your airways. This contraction will prevent a smooth air flow, and this could result in coughing, shortness of breath, and all the other symptoms of asthma.

In order to combat this, it's a great idea to make sure that your home is a place of respite from outdoor humidity. Keep your living spaces well ventilated with adequate vents in places like the kitchen and bathroom, and be sure to lean on the expertise of an air quality services company to source the best air conditioning units and dehumidifiers for your home. These will help to keep the humidity in your home to a minimum and ensure that you have air quality that abates your symptoms rather than exacerbates them.

Cold and dry weather

While humidity could be an asthma trigger in one person, the exact opposite might be true for someone else. The type of asthma that is typically present in cold weather conditions is called exercise induced asthma. This means that when exercising in the cold air, breathing in the dry air will dehydrate the bronchial tubes, and this causes them to narrow and restrict adequate air flow.

If you suffer from this type of asthma, it can be a good idea to restrict the amount of exercise time you have outdoors. Instead of committing to a winter season of long distance running, switch to short bursts of exercise like outdoor sprinting. Or, if possible, you could switch your exercise routine to indoor activities such as running on the treadmill or swimming in an indoor pool.

Wet and windy weather

Mould is one of the things that can trigger an asthma attack. Mould thrives in moist conditions, so when it is damp or wet outside, these are ideal conditions for mould and mildew growth. Combined with wind, these mould spores then get carried on the wind, and this is what makes wet and windy days an asthma trigger for some people.

To combat this, when you are inside your house, you should keep your windows shut to ensure that mould spores do not travel inside. Turn on your air conditioning to ensure that you are maintaining good air quality. When you are outside, make sure you have your inhaler with you at all times so you can combat any breathlessness you experience.

It's important to do all you can to reduce your frequency of asthma attacks and other symptoms. Following these tips and working with experienced air quality services can help with this. You can also click here for more info

About Me

Keeping the house cool naturally

In Australia it can be a battle to keep the house a nice temperature year round. It's either way, way too hot or freezing cold most of the year I find. Luckily using some natural design tip in our new home we have worked out some great ways to keep the house cool naturally, no matter what the outside temperature is. It's good for the environment and good for my bank balance! Since then I've been really interested in techniques to increase the energy efficieny of houses so that you don't use as much power, and I'm compiling my thought and research here.

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