15 Best Tips To Manage Asthma During Summer

Many people prefer spending more time outdoors during the summer season. To them, summer is the best season of the year for vacations, having fun with children, swimming, and enjoying the warm breeze on their skin.

The summer season has magical feelings and expectations; life becomes easier, lighter, and more beautiful.

How Heat Affects the Symptoms of Asthma

Heat and humidity generally make the air “heavier” and more difficult to breathe. Moreover, the heat raises body temperature, which quickly results in sweating.

You run the danger of dehydration when you sweat, making you breathe more quickly and worsening asthma symptoms.

While asthma symptoms can occur at any time of the year, they can often worsen during the summer months due to high humidity, pollen, and air pollution.

So how do you manage asthma during the summer months? Here are some tips on managing asthma during summer as you enjoy basking in the sun, swimming, hiking, and even fishing.

Identify the Triggers

The triggers of asthma vary from person to person. Identifying and avoiding triggers is essential in managing asthma.

While poor air, poor air quality, and pollen stand out as the leading reasons, you must be watchful about mold spores, smoke, pet dander, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and some food preservatives.

Avoid Areas That are Densely With Pollen

During summer, the air is always much saturated with pollen, a notorious trigger for asthma. It would be best if you strived to avoid parks and flowering trees with a high concentration of pollen with the potential of instantly triggering irritation.

Do not step out when you realize sudden changes in the weather patterns, such as humidity, that cause widespread mold in the air. If you have asthma, consider exercising indoors in an air-conditioned environment.

Keep Cool

It is essential to keep cool and avoid overheating during the summer months. In high temperatures, humidity increases, and this increases asthma symptoms.

Throughout the summer, it’s crucial to maintain a cool body temperature and prevent overheating. If you do not have air conditioning, consider purchasing a portable air conditioner or using a fan to circulate air.

If you are outdoors, try to stay in shaded areas and wear loose, lightweight clothing that allows your skin to breathe. Avoid hard activities during the hottest part of the day, and take frequent breaks to rest and cool down.

Stay Hydrated

At all costs, you must avoid dehydration and humidity. Dehydration can trigger asthma symptoms, so staying hydrated during the summer is crucial.

Drink plenty of water all the time and avoid sugary or caffeinated drinks, which can be dehydrating.

Monitor Air Quality

During the summer months, air pollution can significantly trigger asthma symptoms. Pollution levels are higher in urban areas and near busy roads, so avoid these areas if possible.

You can monitor air quality using local air quality index (AQI) reports, which are available from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other sources.

When the AQI is high, limiting outdoor activities and staying indoors with closed windows is best. If you must go outside, try to do so early or late in the evening when pollution levels are lower.

Manage Allergies

Allergies are a common trigger for asthma symptoms. During summer, pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds can be particularly problematic.

If you have allergies, work with your healthcare provider to develop an allergy management plan that includes strategies for avoiding allergens and taking medication to control symptoms.

Some strategies for managing allergies include:

• Keep windows closed during the day to prevent pollen from entering your home.
• Use air conditioning with a HEPA filter to remove allergens from the air.
• Shower and change clothes if you spend much time outdoors to remove pollen from your hair and skin.
• Use a nasal rinse or saline spray to flush out allergens from your nasal passage.
• Take Medications as Prescribed. If you have asthma, taking your medications and precautions as prescribed by your doctor is essential. This may include quick-relief medications (such as albuterol) to relieve asthma symptoms and long-term control medications (inhaled corticosteroids) to prevent asthma attacks.
• It is also essential to have a written asthma action plan. It should outline what to do in case of an asthma attack or worsening symptoms. This plan should include instructions on when to use your quick-relief medication, when to seek emergency medical attention, and how to adjust your medication regimen based on your symptoms.

Keep Your House Clean

How you clean your house plays a big part in controlling your asthma when you have it. Mold, bugs, dust mites, and animal dander are allergies and triggers you wish to lessen or eliminate.

Choose cleaning supplies that have non-toxic chemicals. Home cleansers may include hazardous fumes or scents that cause asthma, breathlessness, and coughing. After using chemicals to clean, especially bleach, open the windows.

Exercise Safely

Exercise is a crucial part of a healthy lifestyle but can trigger asthma symptoms. Morning exercises are the best during the summer. Plan your exercise well; morning walks, jogging, and swimming in the early morning to experience pleasant temperature and quality air.

However, if you have asthma, it is important to exercise safely by warming up before exercising, taking your quick-relief medication before exercising if needed, and avoiding exercise during high pollution or pollen levels.

Consider exercises less likely to trigger asthma symptoms, such as swimming or yoga. Swimming help to reduce inflammation in the airways.

Avoid Smoke

Smoke from cigarettes, cigars, or other sources can significantly trigger asthma symptoms. If you smoke, it is crucial to quit, and if you are around people who smoke, try to avoid smoking as much as possible.

Take Your Medications as Prescribed

The first and most crucial step in managing asthma is taking your medications as your healthcare provider prescribes. There are two types of asthma medications: quick relief and long-term control.

Quick-relief medications are used to relieve symptoms when they occur, while long-term control medications are used to prevent symptoms from occurring.

Be sure to always have your quick-relief medication with you in case of an asthma attack. Also, be sure to refill your prescriptions before they run out.

Visit Your Healthcare Provider Regularly

Regular check-ups with your healthcare provider are essential in managing asthma. Your healthcare provider can monitor your symptoms, adjust your medications if necessary, and provide you with additional strategies for managing asthma during the summer months.

Have an Asthma Action Plan

An asthma action plan is a written plan outlining what to do in an asthma attack. It includes information on your medications, triggers, symptoms, and instructions on what to do if your symptoms worsen. Have an asthma action plan and share it with your family, friends, and coworkers.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

Despite your best efforts, asthma attacks can still occur. It is crucial to be prepared for emergencies by always carrying your quick-relief medication with you. Having a plan in place for what to do if an asthma attack occurs is also a better plan to have in place.

If you experience severe or persistent asthma symptoms, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Some signs of a severe asthma attack include:

• Rapid breathing
• Severe wheezing
• Bluish lips or face
• Difficulty speaking
• Chest pain or tightness

Managing asthma during the summer can be challenging, but with proper management, it is possible to keep asthma symptoms under control and enjoy the season to the fullest.

By monitoring air quality, staying excellent, staying hydrated, managing allergies, taking medications as prescribed, being prepared for emergencies, exercising safely, getting vaccinated, avoiding smoke, and seeking support, you can minimize the impact of asthma on your daily life and enjoy all that summer has to offer.

If you have asthma, work with your doctor and develop an individualized asthma management plan that meets your needs and goals.

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