Asthma Attacks and Air Quality: What Chicagoans Should Know

Millions of people cope with asthma, and part of keeping it under control is avoiding triggers that lead to an attack. But, how do you deal with it when the air quality in your area increases your chances? Read on to find out.

Everyone needs to breathe, but chronic conditions that affect your airways can make this essential bodily function more challenging. Asthma is a long-term illness that causes inflammation in your throat, trachea (windpipe), and lungs, with many symptoms potentially triggered by various allergic factors.

Asthma is one of the most common medical problems in the United States, with 1 in 12 people struggling with it, including 28 million adults. Many environmental allergens can lead to asthma attacks, and even the quality of the air where you live plays a role in your risk factors.

Residents of Chicago, Illinois, dealing with asthma attacks and other problems related to this condition can find help from our medical team at Michigan Avenue Primary Care. Let’s find out more about asthma and the connection between it and the air where you live.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a chronic illness that affects your ability to take in air properly due to allergic triggers such as pollen, mold, pet dander, or dust mites, repeated respiratory infections from childhood, early exposure to secondhand smoke or toxic fumes, or family history. The condition can be persistent or occur periodically.

Allergic asthma is common and can take several forms, including cough-variant asthma, exercise-induced asthma, occupational asthma, and a type that overlaps with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), known as Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS).

What happens during an asthma attack?

When you’re exposed to one or more triggers, your airways undergo a bronchospasm, causing them to swell and fill with mucus, making it harder to breathe. A bronchospasm, along with inflammation and excess mucus, causes symptoms of an asthma attack, including shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and chest pain.

More severe attacks can be accompanied by persistent coughing, severe wheezing, retractions (tightened chest and neck muscles), speech difficulties, panic, anxiety, sweaty palms or face, and bluish lips or fingernails. If you experience these symptoms or continue to worsen even after taking medication, seek medical help immediately.

How does air quality affect your risks?

The quality of air poses a common problem for people with asthma, as the triggers are airborne substances. Research indicates that high concentrations of air pollution directly threaten people with asthma, as they inflame the airways. Pollution also contains substances toxic to your respiratory system, leading to oxidative stress.

In Chicago, the air quality isn’t always the worst for asthma patients, but several factors can raise hazard levels. As recently as August of this year, wildfires brought in smoke that posed a health threat for everyone but was particularly problematic for people with asthma. Pollution poses a varying level of threat, depending on where you live.

Protecting yourself from asthma attacks triggered by poor air quality is essential for maintaining your respiratory health. Some recommended strategies include:

Monitoring air quality daily
Limiting outdoor activity on poor air quality days
Using protective gear such as a mask or scarf
Following your asthma action plan, carry your rescue inhaler, and take medication as prescribed
Knowing your personal triggers and warning signs and acting early
Creating a safe indoor environment by closing windows and doors and using air purifiers
Educating family and caregivers about your asthma action plan

When managing your asthma, stay alert for changes in air quality that may affect you, and be sure to follow your regular regimen to keep your airways clear. For all concerns regarding your asthma issues, call Michigan Avenue Primary Care today or book an appointment online.