Asthma sufferers need to take caution during the winter season to avoid triggers that can cause an asthma exacerbation.
Many asthma patients know very well when they go outdoors in the cold air that they start to experience chest tightness, cough, shortness of breath and wheezing. Try to stay indoors however, if going outdoors is a must then taking precautionary measures such as dressing warm and wearing a scarf over the mouth and nose are helpful.
Respiratory infections, such as the common cold and the flu, can cause serious asthma flare-ups, and result in hospitalizations and emergency room visits. The flu vaccine is strongly recommended in all asthmatics. Precautionary measures such as frequent hand washing, avoiding individuals with the sniffles, wiping surfaces and door knobs with mild soap and water or disinfectant, and avoid wiping the face with bare hands are a few tips to keep in mind.
The indoor pet allergen accumulates when the house gets all closed-up. Cat allergen is a protein that is present in the cat secretions including their saliva and urine. It is a very light allergen that floats in the air, gets recirculated throughout the ventilation system, and accumulates in a home's air environment due to tightness and efficiency of the modern homes. The best solution is getting rid of the cat but this is not practical in most cases, thus environmental control measures such as HEPA air-filters in the furnace or portable room HEPA air-cleaners can be used to decrease the amount of cat allergen in the home. Keeping the pet out of the bedroom is really important.
Lastly, there is no substitute to maintaining one's controller asthma medications and keeping in close contact with one's allergist during the winter months.
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