Asthma and the Outdoors

What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic illness that occurs when there is inflammation and narrowing of the small airways of the lungs resulting in coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing. Many people with asthma are born with it and first have symptoms as a child, while others will develop it later in life as a response to irritants in the air like dust or air pollutants.

An asthma exacerbation (also known as an asthma attack) is a worsening of asthma symptoms often resulting in wheezing and difficulty breathing that requires increasing medications to help manage. 

According to data from 2022, about 8.7% of adults and 6.2% of children in the US have asthma. That’s approximately 22.2 million adults and 4.5 million children. Asthma accounted for about 4.9 million office visits in 2019 and nearly 1 million emergency department visits in 2020.

To manage your asthma wherever you go, keep the following in mind:

1. Know what your asthma and allergy triggers are
2. Have the appropriate medications on hand (i.e. pack your inhaler)
3. Work with your healthcare provider to have a proper asthma action plan

a hiker on a trail lined with brush, points to the right

Outdoor asthma triggers and how to avoid them

Knowing what triggers a person’s asthma can help to minimize exposure to that trigger. With outdoor activities, preparing in advance by looking at weather or other environmental forecasts such as AQI and pollen count can be helpful to determine the health risks of asthma in the outdoors and prevent asthma attacks. For some, allergies and asthma go hand in hand, so managing allergy symptoms can also be helpful in preventing attacks. 

Common outdoor asthma triggers:

• Pollen. Seasonal changes in pollen counts throughout the year can affect not only allergy symptoms but also one’s asthma, with trees, grasses, and ragweed being the most common. Taking showers at the end of the day can wash off pollen that sticks on hair, skin, and clothing.
• Mold. Changes in humidity seasonally can affect the likelihood of mold growth that can trigger asthma.
• Animals and pets. Animal dander comes from the shedding of tiny skin flakes. Dog and cat dander are what most people think of first, but don’t forget that birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and others can also be triggers. Keeping animals outside can minimize exposure to dander.
• Changing weather. Weather changes, either hot or cold, can affect asthma symptoms. This is related to the dryness, humidity, and temperature of the air that enters the small airways.
• Exercise. Exercise-induced asthma is a type of asthma only triggered by exercising that can often be managed with using a short acting bronchodilator (or prescribed inhaler) 15 minutes before activity.
• Air pollutants. Air pollution can be made up of smog and particulate matter, which are known asthma triggers. With the changing climate, wildfire smoke is now another class of asthma triggering air pollutants whose long-term effects are still being studied.
• Viral illnesses. While not specifically related to the outdoors, having a respiratory illness is a common asthma trigger. Basic hygiene like washing your hands can help minimize the spread of illnesses on top of routine vaccination for respiratory illnesses, such as flu and pneumococcal vaccinations.
  
  

There are many other asthma triggers including indoor pollutants, dust mites, carpet, cockroaches, occupational and chemical irritants, cigarette smoke, and even foods. This is why it is important to know what your asthma triggers are in order to avoid or minimize them before heading out.

Set of 4 inhalers and medication stacked on top of each other for the treatment of bronchial asthma on a black background.

Managing asthma in the wilderness

Preparation is key for keeping yourself safe in the outdoors. If you can, work with your healthcare provider to create an Asthma Action Plan to have an individualized course of action when symptoms of an asthma attack occur in an emergency. Many action plans come in green, yellow, and red colors (to mimic stop lights) with guidance on what to do based on your overall asthma severity and the symptoms that you are having. This can also help you make the decision when you need to cut a trip short or seek emergency medical attention. 

While having asthma should not prevent you from enjoying your outdoor adventures, there are a few steps to take to ensure that your asthma does not get in the way of your outdoor fun. With proper asthma control, knowing what your asthma and allergy triggers are, having the appropriate medications on hand, and working with your healthcare provider to have a proper asthma action plan can ensure that you are prepared and minimize the risk of an asthma attack while outdoors.