Humidity: Hi, a general question... - Asthma Community ...

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Humidity

sheamansenior profile image
12 Replies

Hi, a general question relating to Humidity & my severe asthma condition, for the last two years we have gone from the UK to Tenerife in late November/December & as soon as I land it seems within minutes my asthma condition is immediately significantly improved, people say its the humidity factor, can someone explain that in easy terms to understand please? when I return my condition is improved for an extended period then it deteriates again?

many thanks

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sheamansenior profile image
sheamansenior
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12 Replies
green881 profile image
green881

Sorry not much help for you. I've heard this discussed back and forth but I never heard a conclusion I can clearly remember. I grew up in a very humid & hot place with asthma, then moved to a place that is medium humid in the summer (no asthma), then to a very dry place and acquired it again after a few years, then it comes and goes every 5 years. Mine is definitely allergy related, and the real truth is they don't understand that much about what causes allergies. That's why it's a lot of trial an error. But try you should.

sheamansenior profile image
sheamansenior in reply to green881

Thanks very much for your response & support

Tre profile image
Tre

Can't directly answer your question but I use a humidifier in my bedroom at night when I'm bad with my allergies- pollen season - I'm currently on steroids for the asthma & they greatly disturb my sleep. Anyway I got the humidifier out last night & slept so much better, little or no coughing all night. So it definitely makes a difference to my condition, I also have an air purifier in there too.

Tre x

sheamansenior profile image
sheamansenior in reply to Tre

Hiya, many thanks for your response and support, much appreciated.

WheezyAnne profile image
WheezyAnne

There is not a simple answer to this question, and it isn't as simple as High or Low Humidity, in my experience. I monitor the humidity inside and outside my house (the hygrometers are cheap, therefore only give a guide it seems to work for me). I read somewhere that countries where the air is dry, do not experience Dust Mite the same as we do here in GB. This makes sense, as dust mite like warm moist places, which is the reason we need to air our bedding daily. There is a thing called Thunderstorm Asthma which is to do with the water in the air breaking down the pollen into smaller sizes, so the pollen gets further down into the lungs, causing even people who rarely experience breathing difficulties to suffer.

I think I it is a mixture between the humidity levels, the air pressure (if the pressure outside is higher than the pressure in our lungs, we will feel it), the amount, and type of pollen, and, of course, indoor and outdoor pollution levels. Also, our lungs are all different. Hope some of this helps.

sheamansenior profile image
sheamansenior in reply to WheezyAnne

Hiya, many thanks for your comprehensive response, appreciate your help & support

ChrissieMons profile image
ChrissieMons

Who knows? I suffered badly in London as when it is really hot it is also really humid, but a beach holiday, with the breeze making it less hot is ideal for me. It is quite probable that in winter, if we live in centrally heated houses, with all the doors and windows closed, it makes for a too dry atmosphere: my GP told me that drying the washing on radiators works if you don't have a humidifier. I think it is getting the balance right. Personally, winter sun holidays are ideal for me as I loathe the cold, damp, miserable English winter. Unfortunately, I don't know of any way to replicate Tenerife conditions in the UK!

sheamansenior profile image
sheamansenior in reply to ChrissieMons

Hiya, many thanks for your response, support & helpful comments, much appreciated. Shame you haven't cracked the Tenerife issue, maybe the only answer is to live there in the winter LOL

Teenyb1977 profile image
Teenyb1977

Hi I'm a severe asthmatic and usually find I'm great on holiday, apart from when we went to Turkey. I really struggled at night when we were out walking.

I have humidified water through my c-pap machine at night as I have sleep apnea, so not really answering your question tbh x

sheamansenior profile image
sheamansenior

Hiya, many thanks for response & support

green881 profile image
green881

I think you should look for other co-factors along with humidity. When seasons change you have different grass and pollen out there, and the way you interact with dust mites might change. Or pets may go outside more or less. So what you perceive as a reaction to humidity might be other factor. The one person that said they get no asthma on vacation that is true for me as well unless dust or dogs. The fact that you vacation to a more humid environment may just be co-incidence it may just be a lack of the plants and grass that you have developed allergies to.

sheamansenior profile image
sheamansenior

Many thanks for your response, much appreciated.

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