Fall is the toughest time for asthma sufferers. Here's how to stay ahead of symptoms
Dr. Hong recommends people speak with their health care providers to create an asthma action plan.
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Doctors say the fall is one of the most difficult times of the year for people with asthma and that it's important they get ahead of their symptoms.
"Asthma flare ups and hospitalizations tend to significantly increase…especially in our children," said Dr. Sandra Hong, an allergist with Cleveland Clinic.
The doctor says respiratory illness and pollen tend to impact those with asthma more severely. People who have underlying allergies can experience congestion, which their asthma makes worse because it creates inflammation and narrowing of the airways in the lungs.
Dr. Hong recommends people speak with their health care providers to create an asthma action plan. It should include a personalized way to control asthma, what medications to take and when to seek emergency care if symptoms worsen.
To be proactive, doctors recommend people have their medications on-hand. A controller or maintenance inhaler can be crucial in keeping airways open and preventing an asthma attack.
Doctors say people also need to avoid triggers such as pollen or mold that could cause an attack.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report on the prevalence of asthma found that in Connecticut alone, more than 300,000 adults and more than 61,000 children have asthma. In New York, more than 1.4 million adults and 315,000 children have asthma. That same reported showed that in New Jersey, more than 600,000 adults and 167,000 children suffer from asthma.
