Asthma in Spring: Symptoms, Treatment & Tips

What is allergic asthma?

Allergic asthma is a form of asthma triggered by allergic reactions to certain substances, such as pollen, mold spores, pet hair, or dust mites. When a person with asthma is exposed to these allergens, their immune system overreacts, leading to inflammation of the bronchi. This inflammation causes swelling of the bronchial mucous membrane and increases the bronchi's sensitivity to other stimuli such as cold, smoke, or strenuous physical activity. The inflammation also leads to increased mucus production, which can block the airways. The asthma-related narrowing of the bronchi makes airflow through the airways harder, causing shortness of breath. The person with asthma experiences a feeling of tightness in the chest, which can be accompanied by coughing and wheezing. This condition is called an asthma attack.

Long-term, the repeated inflammation and narrowing of the bronchi in people with asthma can lead to a permanent change in the bronchial wall, known as remodeling. This remodeling can lead to chronic impairment of airway function, even between asthma attacks. Asthma treatment therefore aims to control inflammation, widen the bronchi, and relieve symptoms, in order to prevent asthma attacks and improve the quality of life of those affected.

What symptoms does allergic asthma have?

The symptoms of allergic asthma can vary and differ in severity from person to person. While some people are only occasionally affected, others suffer from constant symptoms and asthma attacks — especially when exposed to certain allergens. If you experience shortness of breath and an irritating cough exclusively in spring, you likely suffer from allergy-related asthma. Pollen, which is especially prevalent in spring, is the primary trigger.

Typical symptoms of allergic asthma or an asthma attack are: inflammation and narrowing of the airways, shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing, and increased mucus production. The symptoms resemble those of hay fever. But while hay fever is mainly a burden, asthma can become life-threatening and should definitely be treated.

With asthma too, the condition shows up as a hypersensitivity to certain triggers. If, besides shortness of breath and coughing, you notice additional symptoms, you should definitely have your symptoms checked by a doctor. Watch for persistent respiratory infections, wheezing, constant exhaustion, fatigue, and shortness of breath during exertion or even at rest. Other signs of allergic asthma include: a tight feeling or pain in the chest, and recurring bronchitis.

How is spring asthma diagnosed?

See a specialist, ideally a specialized pulmonologist, and get a diagnosis. They can determine how to treat your asthma-related cough. Besides taking your medical history, they'll use spirometry (a lung function test) to determine your lung volume and airflow speed. Spirometry can also be used to check treatment success. Another method is checking with a peak flow meter. This monitoring device lets you determine the extent of your own airway narrowing and airflow speed yourself.

Why does allergic asthma occur more often in spring?

There are several reasons people can suffer from asthma attacks more often in spring, for example:

1. Pollen: many plants bloom in spring, leading to an increase in airborne pollen. Pollen is a well-known trigger for asthma attacks in people with pollen allergies. The elevated pollen exposure in spring can therefore lead to more frequent asthma attacks.
2. Weather changes: weather changes in spring, such as sudden temperature swings, high humidity, or highly variable weather conditions, can trigger asthma attacks.
3. Changes in air quality: springtime can also come with an increase in air pollution, whether from seasonal wildfires, agricultural activity, or increased traffic. Worsened air quality can trigger or worsen asthma attacks in sensitive people.
4. Outdoor activities: nice spring weather draws many people outside, whether for sports, hiking, or gardening. Increased physical activity and greater pollen contact can trigger breathing problems, especially when people are exposed to allergic triggers like pollen or pollutants.
5. Spring cleaning: during spring, many people thoroughly clean their homes. This can lead to increased exposure to dust, mold, and other allergens that can trigger asthma attacks.

What helps against asthma in spring?

Unfortunately, seasonal asthma isn't curable. It's rather a chronic condition that can recur again and again. With the right measures, though, you can extend symptom-free periods and reduce the severity of asthma attacks.

Treating allergic asthma often involves avoiding allergens that can act as triggers. Acute asthma symptoms are often triggered by respiratory infections and weaken the immune system. So flare-ups are usually treated with antibiotic treatment. Prepare for pollen season and start therapy at least 2 to 3 weeks before spring begins. That's because anti-inflammatory cortisone works with a delay. To prevent periodic asthma, you therefore need to start treatment before pollen starts flying, essentially building up a buffer.

For acute asthma symptoms such as shortness of breath and irritating cough, as-needed medications, so-called relievers or asthma inhalers, help. Used situationally, these agents temporarily widen the bronchi and ease symptoms. Long-term asthma medications, such as inhaled corticosteroids and bronchodilators, are also used to control symptoms and reduce airway inflammation. These so-called controllers are used preventively when asthma symptoms occur several times a week. They weaken symptoms and help against bronchial narrowing, airway inflammation, mucus, and coughing. These are mostly cortisone sprays, whose active ingredients are inhaled either as a metered-dose aerosol or as a powder.

In some cases, allergen-specific immunotherapy (desensitization) can also help, by desensitizing the patient's immune system to certain allergens and thus reducing reactions. As a supplement, you can use special breathing techniques and behaviors in emergency situations: for example diaphragmatic breathing, pursed-lip breathing, the "cough-hold" technique, and certain airway-supporting body positions. In an asthma education program, you can learn these techniques as well as the dosage and use of your asthma inhaler — ask your treating doctor for advice on this.

If you suspect you suffer from seasonal asthma, you should do the following before spring begins:

• Have your doctor determine whether you have an allergy or allergic asthma.
• Discuss your treatment plan (type of medication, handling your inhaler) with your doctor.
• Familiarize yourself with possible signs of an asthma attack & learn to assess your airway response.
• Practice various breathing exercises and relaxation techniques, to help calm yourself and your lungs a bit in case of an asthma attack.
• Give up smoking.
• Avoid pollen as much as possible, e.g. through pollen screens and air filters.
• Check room air with an air monitor and ventilate only as needed.
• Strengthen your airways through moderate exercise.

The role of air monitors in controlling asthma symptoms

An air monitor like the air-Q can support people with asthma in various ways, helping them control their symptoms. Primarily, the air monitor detects various air pollutants such as particulate matter, allergens, elevated humidity that could indicate mold spores, chemical fumes, and other pollutants. By monitoring air quality, you identify potential triggers and can take steps to minimize your exposure to them. Since the air-Q measures air components in real time and thus informs you of changes in air quality early, you can use the air monitor as an early-warning system. This lets you take appropriate action as needed, such as activating your air filter, closing windows, or leaving rooms with poor air quality. Through regular air quality monitoring, you can also optimize your indoor climate, deploying air purifiers, humidifiers, or other devices situationally and controlling them via the smart-home-capable air-Q.

All these factors can affect people with asthma, either in combination or individually, leading to increased breathing problems in spring. As someone affected, it's important to carefully monitor your symptoms during this time and adjust your treatment plans accordingly. This way, you can ideally avoid asthma attacks or at least control them more effectively and significantly improve your quality of life.

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