1. Can cold air trigger asthma symptoms? My son is five and has mild asthma, but seems to cough more when out in the cold weather.
Yes, it is quite common for cold, dry air to trigger symptoms of asthma. Putting a scarf or neck warmer over your son’s mouth and nose when outside on a cold day can help warm the air he breathes in. This should help reduce the asthma symptoms he may experience. It may also be necessary in certain situations (e.g. prolonged exposure outside, exercising while outside) to have your son take his bronchodilator medicine (such as albuterol, Maxair, Proventil, Ventolin, or Xopenex) prior to going outside to prevent the symptoms from occurring. Be sure to discuss your son’s difficulties with cold air with his physician so that you know the exact plan to follow for his specific situation.
2. Can windy weather cause an asthma attack?
Windy days can wreak havoc for people with allergies to pollens, mold, and dust. The wind causes these allergens to become airborne, triggering allergic reactions and asthma for those susceptible.
3. I am 36 years old and have never been asthmatic. I recently moved to a new apartment and have developed all the symptoms (coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness). I have cleaned the house completely and we have no carpets. What else can I do besides move?
There are both allergic and non-allergic causes for asthma, so the fact that your symptoms did not improve with cleaning your carpetless apartment is not surprising. A clean house or apartment does not always mean it is free of allergens or non-allergic triggers such as poor indoor air quality, fumes from paint, carpet, etc., that could trigger asthma symptoms. So before you make plans to move, see your physician to help determine the cause of your symptoms. Environmental controls, if needed, can then be focused on your actual triggers and may save you a lot of time, trouble, and money.
