Excessive Heat and Asthma: Understanding the Risks and How to Stay Safe
Summers in Oklahoma and across the Southern United States often bring extreme heat and stifling humidity. For individuals with asthma, these high temperatures and high heat index days are more than just uncomfortable – they can pose serious risks to respiratory health. In this post, we’ll explain how sweltering weather affects people with asthma and provide five actionable tips for minimizing asthma triggers during extreme heat.
How High Temperatures Affect Asthma and Breathing
Extreme temperature – especially heat – is a well-documented trigger for asthma. When you breathe in very hot air, it can cause the airways to narrow and tighten, making it harder to breathe. Humidity, which increases the heat index, can further worsen breathing by creating heavier air and promoting allergen growth. Dehydration and heat-related stress also increase the risk of asthma flare-ups by drying out airways and increasing inflammation.
Heat, Air Quality, and Asthma Triggers
Extreme heat often leads to poor air quality due to ground-level ozone and stagnant air. These pollutants can inflame airways and trigger asthma attacks. In Oklahoma, the combination of heat, poor air quality, and allergens like mold and pollen make summer a particularly hazardous time for people with asthma.
5 Tips to Minimize Asthma Triggers During Extreme Heat
1. Stay Cool in Air-Conditioned Environments: Spend time in air-conditioned spaces with filtered air during peak heat hours.
2. Drink Plenty of Fluids: Hydration helps maintain airway moisture and overall lung function.
3. Monitor Pollen, Mold, and Air Quality and Limit Outdoor Exercise: Check the Pollen and Mold Report and Air Quality Index (AQI) and avoid outdoor exertion on poor air quality days and when pollen and mold levels are high.
4. Stick to Your Asthma Action Plan and Medications: Take prescribed medications regularly and carry your rescue inhaler. (Protect medications from extreme heat, too – high temperatures can reduce efficacy and possibly affect proper device function.)
5. Reduce Exposure to Other Triggers: Avoid smoke, allergens, and other environmental pollutants during heat waves.
Conclusion
Extreme heat and high humidity can significantly worsen asthma symptoms, but with the right precautions, the risks can be managed. By staying cool, hydrated, informed, and prepared, individuals with asthma can navigate even the hottest days with greater safety and peace of mind.
References
- American Lung Association – Extreme Heat and Lung Health
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Heat and Asthma
- Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America – Managing Asthma in the Heat
- Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality – Ozone Alert Program
- Oklahoma Allergy & Asthma Clinic – Pollen Count and Heat Safety
- AirNow.gov – Air Quality Index Monitoring
- American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology – Humidity and Allergens
- State of the Air Report – American Lung Association