Managing Asthma with Changing Seasons

As the season in the UAE changes from Spring to Summer, certain changes in the environment can cause a sudden flare in asthma symptoms. A rise in pollen, change in temperature, and increased humidity are all factors that can irritate your airways and trigger asthma. Here, Dr. Nitin Verma, Paediatric specialist at King’s College Hospital London, explains how asthma sufferers can better manage their symptoms at this time of the year.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that carry air in and out of the lungs. With asthma, the lining of the airways or branches of the lungs (bronchial tubes) become inflamed and sensitive, causing the airways to narrow. This narrowing makes breathing very difficult, and causes symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness. and excess mucus production.

There two essential things to bear in mind that will help you better manage your asthma symptoms with the changing season; understanding your personal asthma triggers and how to deal with them.

1. Know your asthma trigger

An asthma trigger is anything that irritates your airways and causes your asthma symptoms to flare up. Everyone with asthma has their own personal mix of triggers, which is important to keep in mind. It may be the pollen in the air, contact with a pet, or standing around someone who is smoking- all of these are examples of triggers that may irritate your sensitive airways and increase your symptoms.

Sometimes it’s not easy to pinpoint exactly what triggers your asthma. In such situations, try keeping a diary of activities and symptoms to help you spot any patterns. Some asthma triggers are easily avoidable, such as cigarette smoke and pets. But it’s impossible to avoid many common asthma triggers – like pollen, pollution, or viral infections like a common cold.

2. How can you deal with asthma triggers?

The following steps will assist you in cutting your risk of asthma triggers and reduce your chances of having an asthma attack:

• Use your preventer medication (steroid based inhaler) everyday. The best way to help your body cope well with any asthma triggers is to use your preventer inhaler every day as prescribed. Your preventer medicine is specially designed to work away in the background to help reduce sensitivity and irritation in your airways. Taking it every day means there’s less chance of a reaction if you come into contact with any triggers.
• Follow the advice as written on your individual asthma action plan. There’s space on your written asthma action plan to note down your triggers to help you spot when your asthma needs extra help. Using an action plan cuts your risk of ending up in hospital due to your asthma, as it contains all the information you need to look after your asthma well and reduce your likelihood of having an attack. If you haven’t got one, get in touch with your doctor to get one as soon as possible.
• Arrange an asthma review at least once every 6 months. An asthma review gives you and your doctor a chance to make sure your written asthma action plan is up to date. It’s important to check regularly that you’re taking the right medicines in the right way and at the right doses, so that they’re always giving you the best protection against your triggers. If you’re taking medicines as prescribed but still having asthma symptoms, get your check up as soon as possible.