Dealing with Asthma in Winter Weather

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What is asthma?

• When you breathe, air goes to your lungs through airways or breathing tubes.
• Asthma is a chronic disease that causes airways to be more sensitive, making it difficult to breathe.

Asthma attacks happen when your airways get swollen and narrow.

• An asthma attack can feel like breathing through a thin straw.
• With less space for the air to go through, it is harder for air to get in and out of the lungs.

Who is likely to develop asthma?

• People with family members who have asthma.
• People with allergies.
• People frequently exposed to irritants – like smoke, pollution, or chemicals.
• People with frequent respiratory infections.

Asthma affects both children and adults.

• Asthma usually starts in children between 2 to 6 years old.
• Asthma can also develop in adulthood.
  • Someone who had asthma as a child may develop it again as an adult.

There is no cure for asthma, but asthma can be managed.

• Ways you can prevent and treat asthma:
  • Learn about asthma
  • Ask your doctor about new developments and creating an asthma action plan
  • Take prescribed medications
  • Monitor your health and breathing patterns
  • Allergy proof your home
  • Stay indoors when pollution is high
  • Choose healthy foods you are not allergic to

Your doctor can prescribe two kinds of medication.

• One to use when you have an attack:
  • Emergency relief medication quickly opens up your airways
  • This usually comes in an inhaler
• Another to prevent asthma attacks:
  • You may be able to take medication daily to prevent attacks
  • This may be a pill or can come in an inhaler

Asthma attacks can be triggered by:

• Allergic reactions to:
  • Pollen, dust, mold, cockroaches
  • Food – like milk, eggs, peanuts
• Things that irritate your lungs:
  • Smoke, weather changes, pollution, cold/dry air, perfumes, fumes from cleaning products
• Strenuous Activity – like exercise

Asthma attacks can also be triggered by:

• Emotions – like anxiety, stress
• An upper respiratory tract infection – like a cold, flu or infection in the sinuses
• GERD – gastroesophageal reflux disease

You may be having an asthma attack if you have:

• Trouble breathing
• A tight or painful feeling in your chest
• A whistling or hissing sound when you breathe (called wheezing)
• A cough

Asthma attacks often don’t stop on their own, so you need to act quickly!

• Watch your breathing for:
  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing
  • Coughing
• Keep an inhaler with you at all times.
• Tell someone right away if you feel any signs of an asthma attack.

You can learn what triggers an asthma attack by asking yourself:

• When did the attack happen?
• What was I doing before the attack?
• Where was I before the attack?
• How was I feeling before the attack?

Avoid the triggers that cause your attacks.

• Dust and vacuum your home often.
• Keep indoor air clean with air filters and air conditioning.
• Write down your allergies so you know what to avoid.
• Prevent colds, the flu, and other infections.

Winter weather can increase the risk of asthma attacks.

• Breathing the cold, dry winter air can trigger asthma attacks.
  • Wear a scarf or facemask over your nose and mouth to warm the air you breathe.
  • Exercise indoors, like swimming in a heated pool.
  • Drink lots of liquids to keep your airways hydrated.

• Check out these websites to learn more about asthma.
  • Asthma Basics
  • Three steps to better asthma control
  • Tips to Remember: Asthma triggers and management