CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System - LiveWell

Chill Out and Breathe Easy As cold weather increases the risk of asthma symptoms, careful management of the condition becomes essential to avoid coughing and wheezing. Cooler weather combined with peak winter allergens, such as mold, ragweed, and oak and mountain cedar pollens, creates a perfect storm for asthma episodes in South Central Texas. "Air has to be warmed by the nasal passages to reach normal body temperature," says Marc Chalaby, MD, pulmonologist with CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – Medical Center. "If air is cold, it takes a while to heat up and can cause a spasm or imbalance, especially for individuals with hyperactive airways, such as those with asthma. The effects of airborne allergens and cold air seem to be separate, but when experienced at the same time, they can result in coughing, difficulty breathing, and other respiratory symptoms for someone with asthma." PRACTICE SEASONAL PREVENTION Preventing winter asthma flare-ups starts with diligently taking long-term control medication, even when symptoms aren't a problem. The next steps are avoiding triggers and treating allergies. If mountain cedar pollen sets off symptoms, for example, limit exposure by avoiding outdoor activities on high pollen count days and speak with a primary care physician or allergist about allergy medication. Take prevention even further by following these tips: • Give cold air the silent treatment. Breathing through the nose instead of the mouth allows air more time to warm, Dr. Chalaby says. • Move spring cleaning forward a few months. Steam clean carpets and curtains to rid them of dust mites. • Sidestep seasonal illnesses. Colds, flu, and sinus infections are some of the most common asthma attack culprits, according to the American Lung Association. Dodge them as best as possible by getting the flu vaccine, washing hands frequently, and staying away from individuals who are ill. If asthma flare-ups are a consistent problem, visit christusantarosa.org/asthma to learn about bronchial thermoplasty, a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that can provide asthma control year-round. LiveWell | Winter 2014 Stand Up to Stress If you have asthma, remember to make time each day to de-stress, or all those family and work demands could lead to a flare-up. Stress triggers a chemical release that can affect breathing ability. "Rapid breathing is the first symptom of stress," says Marc Chalaby, MD, pulmonologist with CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – Medical Center. "For someone with asthma, that sort of breathing can lead to airway closure and spasms." 9

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