Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Whether it’s “Just Breathe” by Pearl Jam or “Breathe” by Faith Hill, the significance of just moving air into and out of our lungs has always been an obvious image for songwriters and poets.
Spring brings plenty of pleasantries, like warmer weather and a color palette of flowers, but it can also be a time of renewed discomfort for people with asthma, who will NEVER take the simple act of moving air for granted.
Asthma flare-ups can be triggered by several irritants any time of year, but we can encounter a few of them more often in spring as blooming plants increase the pollen count in our area and seasonal cleaning routines expose us to mold and dust mites.
Symptoms of asthma can be a dark cloud over an otherwise sunny day. If you have asthma, you’ll want to be prepared to manage flares, so you can enjoy the lovely days ahead.
An asthma flare-up is called an exacerbation, and it happens when something irritates your airways and causes them to swell. The swelling makes the muscles around your airways contract, producing excess mucus that narrows your bronchial tubes and makes it harder to breathe.
Symptoms of an asthma flare include:
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness
It’s critical to treat asthma symptoms when they start, so flares don’t become asthma attacks, which can be severe.
Asthma triggers vary from person to person, but there are some common culprits.
Pollen is a fine power released by trees, flowering plants, grasses and weeds during the spring, summer and fall. A common trigger of seasonal asthma, pollen can lead to an immune response in some bodies that causes airways to swell and asthma flares to begin.
Air polluted with dust, smoke, gasses or fine particles can also cause flare-ups.
Dust mites, which go unseen in our carpets, bedding, furniture, and even our children’s stuffed animals, are another irritant. These microscopic organisms produce byproducts that can worsen asthma symptoms.
The mold that grows in damp or humid areas of our homes, like basements and bathrooms, releases small particles called spores when it reproduces. Inhaling those spores can lead to asthma attacks.
The dead skin cells, called dander, our pets shed can exacerbate asthma symptoms if inhaled too.
Identifying your triggers is the first step in preventing asthma flares. Once you know what sets you off, you can try to avoid those things. Two examples would be keeping windows closed to keep pollen out of your house or keeping your workspace clean to reduce the amount of dust you’re exposed to.
Next, you’ll want to bring your quick-relief inhaler, commonly called a rescue inhaler, with you whenever you leave your home. If an asthma flare occurs, the inhaler will help you relieve your symptoms and get it under control.
Create an asthma action plan by:
• Identifying your triggers and symptoms
• Listing your medications and when to use them
• Detailing what to do if symptoms get worse or treatment doesn’t work
It’s also helpful to get vaccinated against any potentially triggering respiratory viruses, like the flu, and record all of your triggers and symptoms as they happen, so you can share this information with your doctor.
You should make an appointment to visit your primary care physician if you’re:
• Having trouble controlling your symptoms
• Using your rescue inhaler more than twice a week
• Missing school or work because of asthma symptoms
• Having anxiety as a result of your symptoms
Your doctor will help you create a plan to manage your symptoms, so you can breathe easy this spring and summer
***
Dr. Alfred Casale, a cardiothoracic surgeon, is chief medical officer for surgical services for Geisinger and chair of the Geisinger Heart and Vascular Institute. Readers may write to him via ae@www.timesleader.com.