Today is World Asthma Day! Did you know that COPD and asthma have some of the same triggers? In the past, I shared some information about indoor allergens and COPD/asthma triggers. Now, let’s dive in a bit deeper and learn more about outdoor allergens and triggers.
World Asthma Day is right in the middle of allergy season for much of the United States. Uncontrolled allergies can affect your COPD and asthma, making your symptoms worse. Think of it this way—your upper airway (your mouth, nose, and throat) and your lower airway (your lungs) are connected. So, when allergies or poor air quality affect your upper airway, they can also affect your lower airway.
Many people have allergies and don’t even know it! Some common allergy symptoms can include sneezing, coughing, clearing your throat, having a runny nose, headaches or sinus pain, and itchy mouth or throat. If you have asthma or COPD, exposure to allergens and other particles can cause more wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. It is important to catch these symptoms early so that they don’t get worse.
There are many factors that can cause your allergies, asthma, and COPD to flare up. Here are some common springtime asthma and COPD triggers:
- Quick changes in weather, such as from hot to cold or from dry to humid.
- Hot and humid weather
- Windy days (The wind can stir up pollen and mold.)
- Tree pollen, flower pollen, and grass
- Wood or barbecue smoke
While you can’t avoid all of these triggers, you can take steps to help reduce them. Here are some great ways to start:
Be sure to keep taking your allergy medication as prescribed. It can be helpful to start your allergy medications a few weeks before allergy season hits so that they have “kicked in” before the trouble starts.
- Avoid being outside in extreme weather, on “ozone action days” when the air quality is poor, or when the pollen counts are high. You can monitor the air quality and allergen counts on smartphone apps, websites, or in your local news and weather reports. The air quality is often reported as an “AQI” number, where a higher number indicates worse air quality. Pollen counts are usually higher in the morning, so you may want to avoid spending time outside in the early hours of the day.
- After being outside, consider taking a shower, washing your hair, or changing your clothes so that any pollen or allergens that land on you are removed when you go back indoors.
- If you use a saline nasal rinse, consider using it after being outdoors. This can help to remove the allergen particles from your upper airway.
- Keep rescue medications with you when you are outdoors. You may need to take your short-acting bronchodilator (the medication that opens up your lungs quickly) if you are feeling short of breath.
- Bathe your pets regularly. They are often “innocent bystanders” in allergy season. Allergens can cling to their fur, and then they bring them into your home!
- Be sure to speak with your health care provider if your allergies are not well controlled on the medications you are already taking. If your allergies are out of control, your breathing could be, too.
What other outdoor trigger tricks can you think of? Do you do anything special to stay healthy in allergy season? Share your comments below! And be sure to check out our My COPD Action Plan to learn more about how to treat your COPD and Asthma on good days and bad.