Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Hot, humid weather impacts those with asthma
After the brutal winter we had this past year in New
England, we all promised not to complain about the heat this summer — yet most
have us have long abandoned that resolve.
Poor air quality on these hot and humid summer days can make
us all miserable, but for those with asthma, it can be perilous.
Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the lung’s airways
characterized by a cough, shortness of breath and wheezing, affecting 300
million people worldwide, including 22 million in the U.S.
Here are some ways everyone can cope with the extreme heat and humidity:
Here are some ways everyone can cope with the extreme heat and humidity:
• Stay hydrated with water — avoid caffeinated tea and
coffee, as well as alcohol.
• Stay indoors with the doors and windows closed, and air conditioning on. If you don’t have A/C, go to public buildings like shopping malls, libraries, community or senior centers, or a friend’s house.
• Restrict strenuous exercise outdoors to early morning or evening hours.
• Stay indoors with the doors and windows closed, and air conditioning on. If you don’t have A/C, go to public buildings like shopping malls, libraries, community or senior centers, or a friend’s house.
• Restrict strenuous exercise outdoors to early morning or evening hours.
Hot, humid and high pollen days present a particular challenge
for people with asthma. Besides the above, asthmatics need to keep rescue
inhalers and medications on hand when attacks occur.
Most physicians give their patients a personalized asthma
action plan, specifying how to manage their asthma when it worsens. That
written plan should include information on when to seek emergency care.
I asked Backus Pulmonologist Setu Vora, MD, to share some
advice for asthmatics.
“A sudden
change in temperature can affect the inflammation in patients with asthma. Hot, humid and hazy conditions make
people's asthma worse. Stay indoors in air conditioning if you have severe
asthma. Using your controller maintenance inhalers regularly keeps your asthma
well controlled."
We have a few more weeks of typical New England summer
weather. Before we know it, we will be complaining about the snowstorms and
freezing temperatures of winter.
Alice Facente is a community health nurse for the Backus
Health System. This advice should not replace the advice of your personal
healthcare provider. To comment on this column or others, visit the Healthy
Living blog at www.healthydocs.blogspot.com or e-mail Ms. Facente or any of the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.or
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