Can a cold flare up asthma?

Can a cold flare up asthma?

A cold or the flu can trigger an asthma attack. Here’s why — and how to keep your sneeze from turning into a wheeze. If you have asthma, even a mild cold can lead to wheezing and tightness in your chest. Colds and the flu are among the most common causes of asthma flare-ups, especially in young children.

Can cold dry air trigger asthma?

Cold, dry air is a common asthma trigger and can cause bad flare-ups. That’s especially true for people who play winter sports and have exercise-induced asthma. Hot, humid air also can be a problem. In some places, heat and sunlight combine with pollutants to create ground-level ozone.

What types of things can cause an asthma flare up?

Sinus infections, allergies, pollen, breathing in some chemicals, and acid reflux can also trigger attacks. Physical exercise; some medicines; bad weather, such as thunderstorms or high humidity; breathing in cold, dry air; and some foods, food additives, and fragrances can also trigger an asthma attack.

Can a cold cause an asthma flare up?

If you have asthma, even a mild cold can lead to wheezing and tightness in your chest. Colds and the flu are among the most common causes of asthma flare-ups, especially in young children.

What to do if you have cold induced asthma?

If possible, a person with cold-induced asthma should avoid going outdoors when temperatures reach 10°F or lower. Weather this cold is significantly more likely to trigger asthma symptoms. Cold weather is a common asthma trigger, though the dryness of the air is more likely to cause problems than the temperature alone.

What to do if your child has an asthma flare up?

Work with your doctor to develop a plan of action to prevent getting a cold or the flu, and know what to do at the first signs you or your child may be getting sick. Prompt treatment can help ease symptoms and prevent a mild asthma flare-up from progressing to a severe asthma attack.

How does asthma affect you in the winter?

“There are two challenges for people with asthma in the winter. One is that they spend more time inside. The other is that it’s cold outside,” says H. James Wedner, MD, an asthma expert at Washington University in St. Louis. While you’re indoors, you breathe in asthma triggers such as mold, pet dander, dust mites,…

Can a cold air flare up cause asthma?

Cold, dry air is a common asthma trigger and can cause bad flare-ups. That’s especially true for people who play winter sports and have exercise-induced asthma.

Is it important to know the difference between asthma and a cold?

It’s important to understand asthma symptoms and cold or flu symptoms and to know which asthma medicines you need to use to prevent asthma flares and asthma attacks. What’s the Difference Between Asthma and Colds?

Why does asthma get worse in the winter?

Some kids’ asthma symptoms get worse at certain times of the year. For others, a severe storm or sudden weather change can trigger a flare-up. Cold, dry air is a common asthma trigger and can cause bad flare-ups. That’s especially true for people who play winter sports and have exercise-induced asthma.

Work with your doctor to develop a plan of action to prevent getting a cold or the flu, and know what to do at the first signs you or your child may be getting sick. Prompt treatment can help ease symptoms and prevent a mild asthma flare-up from progressing to a severe asthma attack.