Why Asthma Can Be Worse in the Spring

Those who suffer with seasonal allergies know that once the snow melts and plants start blooming, allergy symptoms return with a vengeance. Why do asthma symptoms also pop up at this time? Because asthma and allergy can be related — it’s called allergic asthma.

This blog breaks down the allergens present in the spring, the connection between asthma and allergy, and how to combat symptoms from both conditions.

Spring Allergens

With a flip in weather, from cold to warm, winter to spring, trees and grass start to bloom. Both create pollen that’s transferred through the air, and when inhaled, can cause inflammation and classic symptoms, including:

• Itchy, watery eyes
• Stuffy, runny nose and sneezing
• Wheezing and coughing

Mold can also be a problem in the spring and cause the same types of symptoms. With melting snow and spring showers, and regional flooding, the ground and other live materials are dense with moisture, making a great location for mold to flourish.

This blog gives tips to prevent spring allergy symptoms. But what can you do if you feel asthma symptoms on top of allergy symptoms?

Asthma & Allergy Connection

To start, it’s important to understand that asthma symptoms occur because of chronic inflammation of the airways, which can cause symptoms like:

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Cough

Allergy symptoms kick in after inhaling pollen, and asthma can occur in the same way. If someone is allergic, breathing in problematic allergens can certainly cause inflammation in the airways. When this connection is identified, it’s called allergic asthma, or asthma that is triggered by exposure to offending allergens.

Because of this connection, people with allergic asthma tend to experience asthma symptoms seasonally. So, if asthma symptoms arrive primarily in the spring —allergies may be the cause. It’s often paired with other seasonal symptoms, making the change in seasons pretty unbearable.

How to Combat Allergic Asthma

Treating the offending allergen is the way to reduce symptoms of both allergies and allergic asthma — typically, people start with using antihistamines and lifestyle modifications to take away the immediate sting short-term.

But there’s another, long-term, disease-modifying option. Treating the cause with allergy drop immunotherapy. This treatment slowly introduces the body to the allergens that cause reactions, and over time, trains the body to tolerate the allergen without reacting.

Allergy drop immunotherapy can help with both environmental allergies and allergic asthma. Find a provider near you that offers this treatment to get started in tackling allergy and allergic asthma.