Asthma attack in woodland - could it be leaf mould?

[Celie1]

Hi,

Hope you’re all well and enjoyed Xmas and new year.

I’ve just experienced an asthma attack that went on and on, while walking my dog in the woods. I had to repeatedly take ventolin until I managed to get out of the woods (got lost while in there!🙄). The air was very cold and I didn’t think to take a scarf to cover my mouth, as the weather has been much milder recently. That probably set the attack off, particularly as I was breathing harder and the terrain had slight inclines. But I noticed when I was walking in the darker and more leafier part of the wood the attack came on again and wondered if it was the leaf mould.

I had pneumonia a short while ago and managed a daily walk with my dog (dog off lead running about and me walking very slowly 😬) . I’ve been feeling much better recently and stopped needing to use ventolin on walks so decided on the woodland walk today.

I just wondered if anyone else had experience a trigger from leaf mould? It may have just been the cold air and increased breathing due to walking uphill. 🤔🤷🏻‍♀️.

[fraid]

There have been previous similar posts on here re leaf mould,I know mould is one of my main triggers( tho indoors as housebound). Bit much when you can’t even enjoy a dog walk in the woods! 🙄Would a mask help or stay out of woods this damp weather? Hope someone will come along to help.🤞

Happy New Year! 🤗🥳

[Celie1 in reply to fraid]

Thanks fraid,

Happy New year to you too!

I usually have a scarf on when it’s cold so that would have helped today. I could carry a mask to use in very leafy areas - good idea!🤔I don’t want to deprive my big bouncy dog of exciting, woodland sniffing opportunities!

It’s a bit strange that even though I don’t have allergic or eosinophilic asthma I have had asthma attacks starting suddenly in the woods, both in early spring and again now and felt at the time it was down to something triggering me in the wood. It could be just down to an infection starting, the weather or exercise which can all be triggers 🤷🏻‍♀️. Who knows, it’s all a bit of a guessing game ! 😆

Thanks anyway, take care x

[fraid in reply to Celie1]

Just another thought, have you tried Cetirizine, anti histamine, if it’s an allergy? What dog you got? X

[Celie1 in reply to fraid]

Hi sorry, only gave you half a reply!

I’ve tried different antihistamines and settled on Fexofenadine. I have been tested for allergies and none have been found but I don’t suppose that means I don’t have any. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Celie1]

I take Fexofenadine for Pressure urticaria.

My dog is a crazy Hungarian Vizsla. 😆

[beech in reply to Celie1]

Hi Celie1, I just wanted to warn you to be cautious with your vizsla and sniffing in leaves and rotten wood, which is something they of course love doing. Scent following dogs (I have cocker spaniels) can themselves develop aspergillosis as we can, so it’s important to keep an eye out for unusual respiratory symptoms in dogs too.

My spaniels seem to be experts in inhaling grass seeds, leading to lots of expensive veterinary care, and a friend lost her vizsla to overwhelming aspergillosis in the sinuses. I learnt about that prior to my asthma diagnosis plus aspergillus allergy, so I’m ultra cautious for myself and my dogs. No more compost or kicking leaves for me now 🙄🤷‍♀️

[Celie1 in reply to beech]

Hi Beech,

Thanks for your reply and the information.

I didn’t know that dogs could get aspergillosis, that’s shocking, how awful for your friend!

I’ll certainly watch out for that with my dog now I know. As you say they just love sniffing and rummaging in the undergrowth.

Take care 🙂

[beech in reply to Celie1]

it is of course an unusual problem, but worth being aware of. I now have to be careful during grass seed time, but it’s incredibly difficult to police all the time, and you want the dog to be able to have its fun. And it’s all too easy to live in fear of possible problems. It’s as much about being alert to a new symptom you haven’t noticed before and seeking timely veterinary advice if you’re concerned. Keep on enjoying your walks - vizslas are special dogs!

[Celie1 in reply to beech]

Fortunately he doesn’t have a problem with grass seed. Yes it’s a difficult balance.

All the best 🤞

[SmilesForMiles in reply to Celie1]

I have a crazy red head vizsla doggo too! and had a similar experience with an attack in the woods last spring, though I'm allergic to mold + grass so hard to say exactly what would have caused it (Like you, I got to a certain area and suddenly started coughing uncontrollably and had to take a bunch of my rescue inhaler. Was pretty scary because we were pretty far out).

Nasal sprays (the type with steroid and antihistamine) and the nutty pot aka nasal rinse have helped me. I'll also wear my n95 mask if I know theres a lot of allergen around (though people here look at me as if i'm batty and assume i'm a covid nut...lol), but I find it helps a lot.

[Celie1 in reply to SmilesForMiles]

There’s the thing, I’m not allergic (at least that’s what the RAST test shows) although small particles will still irritate my airways I suppose.

I got some funny looks today as I had a scarf wound around my face (cold breeze) 😆but it does help - when I remember! 🤦🏻‍♀️

I also have a nasal spray and use a nasal rinse, which I wouldn’t be without.

[SmilesForMiles in reply to Celie1]

apparently mold is also a chemical irritant, like smoke. So even if you don’t have an allergy it can bother your lungs. I asked the nurse at my allergists because I’ve reacted to mold in the past. So maybe cold + mold?

[Celie1 in reply to SmilesForMiles]

Yes probably. 🤔

I’ll keep a scarf handy!

[Mandevilla]

Are you sensitive to weather? I am much worse when it's misty/foggy/rainy and I find that walking in damp areas (especially if the area is not open, so not much air flow) can also cause a problem.

[Celie1 in reply to Mandevilla]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. 😊

I do seem to be sensitive to the weather so it could have been, as you say, something to do with being in a less open area. 🤔 Something to think about.

I’ve not made the connection before, I’ll have to try wearing a mask or scarf when I’m in the woods on a damp or cold day. 👍

[Elspe]

I find really cold air is a problem too. A fine silk scarf or some such would help, I think, as it warms the air before it gets to your lungs. If it is mould, it may well be seasonal, that is, only one type of mould affects you, and there are many. My GP suggested leaf mould ages ago, but it only seemed to affect me occasionally, and we walk in the woodlands regularly.

[Celie1 in reply to Elspe]

Hi, thanks for your reply. 😊

Yes I have a really smooth scarf I use (no woolly it’s!) for cold air, just didn’t realise how cold it was!

The wood I walked in yesterday was a different one to my usual walk. The wood had a lot of narrow paths through the trees and was more ‘enclosed’ than my usual one which made me question the leaf mould, I could smell the earthiness as I walked. I don’t know much about leaf mould, I’ll have to find out more I think. 🤔

Hope you’ve been ok in the cold snap.

[runcyclexcski]

Could be the cold air or the mould. If wearing a N95 mask helps, it could have been the mould, but the mask will also warm the air somewhat. The issue is that, once the attack starts, it's hard to wear the mask due to the additional air resistnance. I am trying to make a 24V heated/powered mask. Got a proper blower and a proper filter cartridge, but heating is not as easy, wattage-wise.

Generally cold and dry air is the worst, especially if one is recovering from pneumonia. I had a cold 3 weeks ago. I thought it was through it, and went skiing to CH, and it was bad news. Had to go to A&E on my return and took a course of pred,

[Celie1 in reply to runcyclexcski]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I could kick myself for not having my scarf. The scarf I used when I was poorly worked really well in the very cold weather we had, apart from it is more difficult to breathe with it on! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Generally speaking with me, my asthma is a bit unpredictable after I’ve been ill (rather than during), for quite a while. I should have been more careful. I think, like other asthmatics, I try to rush the recovery and think I’m ok if I’ve had a few good days and try to go back to ‘normal’ activities. 😬. You live and learn don’t you. Or perhaps not! 😂

Hope you’ve recovered now. 👍😊

[runcyclexcski in reply to Celie1]

I am not sure, actually, if mould and fungi are active much outdoors during the winter. Mould spores are disseminated when they have a high change of germinating, one would think. During the warm season, spores are a dominant constiutent of 3-5 micron fraction in the air, but I am not sure about the winter.

Another topic (covered here before) is the wood-burning during the cold days (due to the energy prices). My bet is that wood burning, and the cold/dry air are the main concerns at this time, not necessarily mould. I see people burning wood in the country side maybe b.c. fireplaces are more common? In the Swiss Alps last week, every house with a stove pipe had a smoke coming out. The famous "crispy clean" mountain air.

[Celie1 in reply to runcyclexcski]

Ah that’s a point. 🤔

Probably all down to me not really being well enough to walk up even small slopes still and the cold air. 🙄

Not many fires where I live now that I’ve noticed. I have however noticed a lot more garden fires though than previously, but the very cold weather has put a stop to that 😆

[Karenjaninaz]

if you are outside and there’s mold in the air troubling you the mold then the mold is also depositing on your clothing, On your scarf or on your mask. When you go inside, you need to take these clothes off and put them in the washer, otherwise you are bringing all that stuff into the house. The sinus nasal rinse is a help to get it out of the nasal passages. A different antihistamine may work other than Fenofexidine- that gave me actually hives. One can try the different anti-histamine preparation‘s to see what works .

[Celie1 in reply to Karenjaninaz]

Hi, I think I replied to myself! 🤣

Thanks. See answer below. 😊

[Beader3]

I am definitely triggered by mould, so no more hiking for me.

Yes! Change clothing & wash it all. Wash your face, etc. …use the previously suggested Neil Med bottle for a sinus wash,

after a good hard freeze, i find it easier for awhile, till the mould regrows .

[Celie1 in reply to Beader3]

Hi,

Sorry your walks are being hijacked by mould. It’s a pain when you can’t do the things you like to do! 😤.

Thanks for your reply. 😊

[Celie1]

Hi, thanks for your reply.

Yes that sounds sensible.

I use a nasal rinse twice a day anyway. 👍

I only use the antihistamine for hives - isn’t it strange the way our bodies react differently to the same medication! I have tried other antihistamines, but find Fexofenadine works best for me.

Best wishes

[celticlady]

I haven't been diagnosed with asthma but lately -past few years I've had symptoms. I was walking in open country on a foggy autumn evening when I suddenly felt short of breath, later wheezing. Yesterday went for a walk locally lots of dead leaves around and this morning felt chest tightness and sob. Allergic asthma probs. Damp conditions humidity will cause this. Don't forget release of histamine causes sob dizziness and lots of other symptoms.. histamine constricts blood vessels in lungs. Hope this helps. I've had to self diagnose as GPs seem unaware. Take care hope you're still able to enjoy walkies!