Asthma and Seasonal Changes: Protecting Your Lungs Year-Round
Asthma does not follow a calendar, although many people notice that their symptoms do. A change in weather, a dusty room after the windows have been closed for weeks, pollen in the air, smoke, pollution or a respiratory infection can all make already-sensitive airways react. For someone with asthma, this may mean more coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or breathlessness at certain times of the year. The important thing is to understand what actually triggers an individual's asthma . Two people may both have asthma but respond to very different things. One may struggle when the weather turns cold, while another may notice symptoms during the rainy season, around dust or mould, or whenever air pollution rises. Why Can Weather Changes Affect Asthma? Asthma causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways, making them more sensitive to irritants and other triggers. Seasonal changes can bring several of these together. Cold, dry air may irritate the airways , particularly during ...