What is Asthma?

Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND 

When the summer and warm weather arrives, they can bring more than just an opportunity to enjoy being outside! These warmer temperatures can also bring about triggers that in some people worsen their asthma symptoms. How can summer trigger asthma? What can you do to help with your asthma symptoms? It is a lot to cover so let’s get into it, shall we?

To start with, what exactly are the signs and symptoms of asthma? Common symptoms of asthma include shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and/or wheezing attacks. You may also experience chest tightness or pain and even trouble sleeping due to difficulty breathing. Your asthma may be getting worse if you notice the symptoms are becoming more frequent and bothersome. For example, you may notice that your asthma is starting to interfere with your activities of daily living whereas in the past you did not notice such a large interruption in daily life. If your asthma is getting worse, you may also need to use a quick –relief inhaler more often. Lastly you may have an increase in difficulty breathing. These symptoms occur because when you have asthma your airways become narrow and swollen. You may also produce extra mucus. Please see the attached picture. (1)

Before we can talk about how the summer can impact asthma we need to dive into what can increase your risk of developing the illness in the first place. To start with having a family history of allergies or asthma, especially having a parent with the illness can increase your asthma risk. Experiencing repeated respiratory infections as a child can also increase your risk. For example, one such infection is RSV. Being exposed to toxins, fumes or second hand/third hand smoke can increase risk of asthma. Having allergies or eczema are also associated with an increased risk of asthma. I know you are thinking but Dr. Claire these are just risk factors that increase your chance of developing asthma, not the actual cause. What is the actual cause of asthma? Unfortunately, science has not yet found the cause of asthma. At this point all we really know are 2 things, what can increase your risk of asthma and what typically triggers a flare up of your asthma. That being said let us talk about what the most common triggers are when it comes to flare up or asthma attack.

Now this is where things get interesting. That is because allergies are a common occurrence during the summer. Very often allergens are also triggers for asthma. For example, pollen is a huge trigger for allergies and asthma. (2) Typically, in places such as NY the overall worst months for pollen are between April and October. (3) Other common allergens that many people find worsen their asthma include dust mites and even pet dander. In my experience as a cat owner, I can tell you that pet dander is worse as our pets lose their winter fur!

Strong chemicals or even just strong smells can trigger asthma flare ups/asthma attacks. This can include perfumes, nail polish and even air fresheners. As summer approaches many people will do a “spring cleanup.” What people forget is that harsh cleaners can trigger asthma flare ups. Not only the cleaners themselves but in my experience the dust that is raised while cleaning can also trigger an asthma flare up/ asthma attack. If you are helping a senior, you may find that they use moth balls to store cloths. In my experience this strong scent can also be a potential trigger. Now do not use this as an excuse to avoid spring cleaning! LOL. Just be mindful.

Toxins in the air such as factory emissions, car exhaust, smoking and wildfire smoke can all trigger asthma flare ups/asthma attacks. Now I know what you’re thinking, where the heck am I going to encounter wildfire smoke? Well do you go camping? Do you have BBQs? Do you go to places such as parks where other people maybe grilling and make smoke? Well, that is all smoke that can trigger an asthma attack. And let us not forget a few years ago the smoke that traveled all the way from Canada to NYC!

Chilly air may seem like a trigger you should only really encounter in winter. However, while summer may bring warmer weather outside it also tends to bring an increase in AC usage! This dry, chilly air can be a trigger.

Exercise is another trigger you may or may not expect. When most people think of exercise induced asthma they think of wintry weather sports. (2) However, in my experience those who go from being sedentary in the winter to very active in the summer often experience an increase in frequency of asthma attacks. GERD is also a potential trigger for your asthma. (1)

Other common triggers can include mold, occupational exposures, respiratory infections and even stress. (2)

All this being said what can you do to help your asthma symptoms improve and avoid flare ups/ asthma attacks? Well, working with asthma really takes working on multiple aspects of your health. There are lifestyle elements as well as nutrients that can all work towards making you the healthiest you can be. In part 2 of asthma I will be talking about supplements you may exact such as Black Seed and NAC. However, there are others that may surprise you such as Magnesium. I will also be discussing how certain lifestyle factors can come into play when it comes to keeping ourselves healthy.

Sources:

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20369653
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6424-asthma
3. https://www.allermi.com/blogs/allergy-101/allergy-season-in-new-york-allergens-by-region-symptoms-treatment