Get Ready for Another Summer With Asthma

Summer weather is great in lots of ways. But if you have asthma, seasonal changes like blooming plants, fresh-cut grass, and more time for outdoor sports can pose unique health challenges. It’s no fun to snuffle and wheeze your way through a whole summer.

At Living Water Community Health and Wellness Clinic, our care team provides support for adults and children with asthma. We understand the challenges that the summer season poses for asthma patients, and we can advise you on the best way to handle your symptoms so you can still get to all of the plans and activities you want.

Because May is Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, we want to help our patients in the Porterville, Lindsay, and Visalia, California, areas understand more about summer asthma. We also can offer some expert medical advice on reducing your exposure and minimizing your symptoms.

With our knowledge and care, you can be ready for summer despite your asthma.

Why can asthma be worse in the summer?

If you have asthma, your airways are chronically affected by inflammation. You might experience swelling of your airways, which restricts your breathing, or suffer from increased mucus production of muscle contractions during an asthma attack. Typical symptoms include chest tightness or pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, or a dry cough.

Changes in seasons can put a lot of extra stress on the respiratory systems of asthma sufferers. Summer also has some unique risk factors for people with asthma.

You might have asthma or allergies triggered by airborne pollen, in which case the spring and summer months can be especially miserable due to new blooms. Airborne ozone and particle pollution can cause asthma symptoms, as well.

Summer is also a time of year when people, especially children, want to get active. But don’t worry — you don’t have to give up your favorite summer sports if you have an asthma diagnosis! Your provider at Living Water Clinic can help you put together an asthma treatment plan that takes your athletic ambitions into account.

Getting through summer with asthma

Asthma is a chronic condition that can’t be completely cured. However, with the right medical care and support, you can effectively manage and control your asthma symptoms and outbreaks. 

Daily medications help manage asthma long-term, and rescue inhalers provide symptom relief during an asthma attack. Some patients may benefit from treatment with biologic medications to improve your lung function and reduce the frequency of asthma attacks.

If you notice yourself relying too heavily on your rescue inhaler, talk to the team at Living Water Clinic about other strategies to get your asthma under control. You might need to reduce your exposure to your asthma triggers. For example, you can change the time of day you go outdoors or create a clean room in your home with a HEPA filter to give your lungs a break.

Living Water Clinic offers a full range of holistic family medicine and primary care support services. You can schedule a telemedicine appointment to receive advice and diagnosis remotely, or visit our walk-in clinic when you need care. Call now to book, or use the online tool to schedule today.