As the weather warms up and we spend more time outside, it’s important for people with asthma to be mindful of the subtle seasonal triggers that might set off their symptoms.
Ahead of World Asthma Day (May 5), we spoke to Karen Spillett, deputy head of health advice at Asthma + Lung UK, who has outlined five key summer asthma triggers to be aware of, and has also shared an abundance of useful tips on how to manage them.
1. Hot weather
“Warmer weather can cause people’s airways to narrow, which can bring on asthma symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath,” says Spillett.
2. Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms can also trigger your asthma, causing asthma attacks and making symptoms like breathlessness, wheezing and coughing worse, according to Asthma + Lung UK’s website, which is sometimes called thunderstorm asthma.
“This doesn’t affect everyone with asthma, but it’s important to be aware of it,” says Spillett. “People might have a higher risk of getting thunderstorm asthma if they have asthma and hay fever, are not managing their asthma well or have undiagnosed asthma.
“There’s also evidence that younger adults under 30 are more affected by thunderstorm asthma than older people.”
3. Pollen
The summer also coincides with the height of pollen season, particularly for grass and weed pollen.
“The main seasonal allergy that can affect people with asthma is hay fever,” says Spillett.
Hay fever can trigger asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest pain or a tight chest and feeling short of breath, according to Asthma + Lung UK’s website.
It also states that having hay fever and asthma can increase your risk of having an asthma attack.
“The hay fever season runs from March through to September, so people with asthma need to be aware of pollen levels when they are out and about,” says Spillett.
4. Air pollution
“Strong sunshine can cause the level of ozone and other air pollutants in the atmosphere to rise which can trigger asthma symptoms,” says Spillett.
Barbecues in the summer can be particular problematic.
“If you’ve got asthma, your airways are already sensitive and irritated, and if you come into contact with a trigger, such as smoke from a barbecue, that will trigger your airways,” explains Spillett. “They will become more inflamed and narrowed, which triggers symptoms of asthma that will need to be treated.”
5. Mould and dust
“Irritants like mould and dust are still rife in the summer months, and can be a trigger in different places,” says Spillett. “If you are going camping in the summer, for example, be mindful that tents can be a breeding ground for mould spores.”
How can people find out what their specific triggers are?
“Sometimes it’s not always obvious what your specific triggers are and it can be a bit of a detective mission,” says Spillett.
Noting down symptoms as and when they happen can be helpful.
“Keeping a diary can help you track things over time and can help you spot any patterns,” says Spillett. “Think about what you were doing when you started getting asthma symptoms. What time of day was it? Where were you?
“You can also use your peak flow scores to help work out what’s triggering your asthma symptoms.”
Here are some tips on how to manage some of these troublesome summer triggers…
Check the Met Office app
“You can keep an eye on the weather forecast, pollen levels and air pollution levels on the Met Office website or app,” says Spillett.
Avoid exercising outdoors in the middle of the day
“If you are planning to exercise outside, it might be good to think about doing it earlier in the morning or in the evening when it’s cooler and the pollen levels are likely to be lower,” suggests Spillett.
“Also, make sure that you’ve got a drink with you to stay hydrated and always have a reliever inhaler with you.”
Use a fan
“Keep a room cool by using a fan,” recommends Spillett. “However, make sure that the fan is clean. If it has been sat in a cupboard for a year, wipe any dust off with a damp clot.”
Follow your asthma action plan
“An asthma action plan tells you what to do to keep well everyday, so following that basic care advice is really important,” says Spillett.
“For anyone with a lung condition, it’s important to carry on taking your medications as prescribed, even when you feel well, to manage that sensitivity in the airways. Make sure you have a reliever inhaler with you at all times, so if you do start to feel those symptoms, you can use it.”
Clean your tent before going camping
“If you’re going camping, get your equipment out and make sure it’s clean,” advises Spillett. “Make sure you remove any black or white or green patches on the equipment before you use it.
“If mould is a trigger for you, ask a friend or a family member if they can help.”
Avoid busy roads
“Try to stay away from main roads or congested areas and consider taking the back roads instead where there’s less congestion and less pollution,” recommends Spillett.
Take antihistamines
“If you know when you tend to start getting hay fever symptoms, start taking some antihistamines a couple weeks before those symptoms usually start and then continue to take them across the season,” recommends Spillett. “That will give you the best protection.”
Asthma + Lung UK’s helpline is here to support anyone with a lung condition, and their loved ones, this summer – get in touch on 0300 222 5800