For many people, seasonal asthma is a common occurrence. Asthma and allergies are often brought on by seasonal activities and weather variations, especially in the spring when the pollen count is higher than usual.
Asthma is a long-term respiratory disorder that damages the airways, making them swollen and restricted. Due to the weather change and airborne pollen grains, episodes of asthma attacks increase in the spring. The most common allergic asthma symptoms are difficulty in breathing, wheezing, and coughing.
What increases the severity of asthma in the spring season?
During the spring, mold spores, grass, and tree pollens can irritate and constrict a person's airways. A severe asthma attack can be potentially fatal for a person.
Asthma occurs when the antibodies incorrectly label a harmless substance like tree pollen as an invader, which leads to an allergic reaction. In order to shield the body from these compounds, the antibodies bind to the allergen, which triggers the immune system to release chemicals. This frequently affects the lungs and airways, which results in the onset of asthma symptoms.
Asthma symptoms in the spring season are:
- Coughing
- A feeling of chest constriction
- Chest discomfort
- Respiratory issues or shortness of breath
- Sneezing
- Clogged nose
- Discomfort in the throat
- Itching or watery eyes
Treatment of spring asthma
Immunotherapy
In order to do this, regular injections are required. There will be a very small amount of allergens that cause the symptoms in the allergy shots. Immunotherapy can aid in the treatment of asthma by progressively lowering the immune system's sensitivity to specific allergic triggers.
Anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) therapy
When you have an allergy, your immune system mistakenly recognizes a specific substance and produces antibodies (IgE) against the allergen. To stop allergic reactions that cause asthma symptoms, these antibodies will alert the immune system to release histamine and other substances into the bloodstream.
Read More – Asthma: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatments
How to prevent asthma in the spring season
- Check the air quality before going outside to walk or jog to avoid allergy.
- Take a shower before going to bed to rinse off any pollen sticking to your skin.
- You should also periodically hoover your carpets and furniture and wash your blankets and sheets in warm or hot water to keep them free of allergens.
- Avoid smoking as it may exacerbate the symptoms and reduce the immune system's ability to respond to asthma medicines.
- Remove your shoes and socks that you wore outdoors before entering your home because shoes might carry pollen from strolling outside.
- Keep the windows closed in both your car and your house. Use the air conditioning rather than the windows or vents on the car.
- Make sure to replace your air filters every six months.
Avoiding allergen exposure, donning protective gear, applying sunscreen, and leading a healthy lifestyle are all crucial preventative and therapeutic measures to avoid seasonal asthma. It's critical to see a doctor if symptoms intensify or persist so that the appropriate course of action can be determined. With the right care and attention, we may take advantage of spring's beauty and warmth while still being in good health.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
