Asthma flare in the heat - anyone else?

[snotts]

Hello all,

I'm 32 years old, diagnosed with asthma at five and have been suffering with severe/brittle asthma for the last 7 years or so.

I've been shielding so have actually had better control that usual these past few months as I've not been picking up any colds, which has been a bonus in a difficult time!

Is anyone else suffering in the heat? I've had two days in bed/on the couch with a wheeze and am feeling a bit sorry for myself. I've had severe attacks during heatwaves before and the only thing to do is ride it out.

Alex

[twinkly29]

Please don't ride it out if you need to seek help, if your usual rescue meds aren't doing what they're supposed to for the time they're supposed to.

[snotts in reply to twinkly29]

Sorry, I phrased that badly! I have a well defined plan and will not hesitate to seek out extra help if I need it, thank you for the reminder though 🙂

[twinkly29 in reply to snotts]

Good, I'm glad. Sorry if it sounded like I was telling you off! A lot of people don't seek advice when they should. I hope riding it out works.

[snotts in reply to twinkly29]

Not at all, thank you for caring and giving good advice!

[Troilus]

It affects me. I think it is the humidity that gets me. I bought myself a Dyson air purifier last year. It was very expensive, but it has been worth it. I am sitting quite comfortably in my front room watching tv. As soon as I go to the door I can tell the difference.

I would love to get another one for the bedroom, but I have found lockdown very expensive ( online food shopping. Too many goodies. ) and the coffers are running a bit low at the moment.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Troilus]

Was just about to suggest that too, I’ve just been looking at them this afternoon for the same reason.

Which one do you have?

[Troilus in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

I got the Dyson pure hot and cold. It is very big though. Not W hat I was expecting. I was expecting something thinner and less intrusive. If I was to buy again I would choose a smaller less intrusive one.

[snotts in reply to Troilus]

Ahh yes, I've got a filter and a fan going full blast. The filter was expensive but I wish I'd bought it years ago

[DeOriginalspiceman in reply to Troilus]

Hi Troilus,

I have recently been diagnosed with asthma and was on all the usual meds etc. At the moment it's a bit better but my peak flow is still nowhere near where it should be according to the asthma nurse. I was considering a Dyson Airpurifer as well but as you said, the coffers are running low. Does it work well?

The recent heatwave /increasing the pollen count has affected me so I don't stay out too long, but my hayfever tablet does help.

Stay safe.

[Troilus in reply to DeOriginalspiceman]

Yes it does. Expensive but worthwhile in my opinion. Yesterday was very hot, humid, high pollen. I spent a little time gardening then came in and put my Dyson on. I sat quite happily watching tv. ( When it is hot and humid, it can affect my breathing indoors.) My bedtime peak flow was higher than it has been for a while. Should use this expensive toy more often!

I also find it useful when I’m cooking.

AND it has an auto feature. This is handy.

I made my mind up to get one for the bedroom. ( This one is too awkward to carry up and downstairs.)

Just my luck - everywhere is out of stock!

[Jandm in reply to Troilus]

I’d love one. I think we are all in the same boat presently

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador]

I am (I think 😅)... I’m triggered by both heat and pollen, but even after keeping windows shut I’m having issues unless I have the fans going to cool me.

You’re not alone (AUK on Facebook today was talking about the triple whammy of pollen, heat and storms on the horizon today). Hope things settle soon for you

[snotts in reply to EmmaF91]

Ahh I hadn't thought to look at the Facebook group, but that makes sense, thank you!

[Chelle25]

Hi

I get affected by heat and cold so cant win!

It's always nice to know we aren't alone.

Hope you stay as well as you can.

[snotts in reply to Chelle25]

It's a real comfort to know we're not alone with it, thank you for commenting. Hope you feel better soon

[Hippopotamai]

I trigger at the extremes of hot and cold weather. You can wrap a scarf around your face when it's cold. More difficult to mediate when it's hot other than to set up your environment to be as comfortable as you can make it and avoid any known triggers where you can. It's the height of grass pollen season at the moment so that might be a contributing factor. The overcast weather has been giving me awful pressure headaches and wheezing which I find more difficult than the heat lately.

[snotts in reply to Hippopotamai]

It's horrible weather for asthma isn't it, and headaches too? Hope you feel better soon

[Poobah in reply to snotts]

Yes! Headaches too. 🥵 Especially when a storm is brewing.

[Luce11]

Hello I've been hugely affected by the heat too! not sure weather pollen too but I was prescribed some tablets can't seem to get on with them, I have a call with asthma nurse soon. I'm pretty fed up of how the heat makes it harder to breathe and increased coughing. I've ordered a dehumidifier and air purifier so maybe they will help. I notice I get worse in one room amongst the rest. Your not alone in this, maybe talk to your doctor about how things are.

[snotts in reply to Luce11]

Thank you, I'm sorry you're suffering too. It feels a bit miserable to have all the windows shut in the height of summer but needs must! I hope you feel better soon

[WheezyNanma]

Yes it's worse during the heat, especially humid heat. I have had to double up on my inhaler each day. The heat feels so claustrophobic.

I also have some Montelukast but haven't taken any yet, as I have allergies (sticky, itchy eyes, congested bunged up nose).

Good luck to you and I hope this heat buggers off soon!!

[Junglechicken in reply to WheezyNanma]

Me too Wheezy Nama. Had the dehumidifier on last night and the start of this week was horrible. Had to take rescue inhaler twice every day this week which I’ve not done since September last year. Thunder forecast tomorrow for my part of the world which is never a pleasant experience but I do enjoy the light show. Make sure you stay well hydrated. It’s very easy to become dehydrated in this heat. I was a bit dizzy yesterday which went away after a drink of water.

[Willow7733]

This heat is also affecting me really badly. Just can’t seem to get rid of the heavy pressure on my chest.

[LDloveslattecoffe]

I am affected by extremes so yes the heat is affecting me but I also have to wear a scarf over my mouth in the winter cold.

[AirIsUnderrated]

Yes, yes and yes. I haven't been diagnosed but I'm post-viral and struggling with the heat, which I used to love. I couldn't work out what the trigger was, but I've figured out that the heat is what is stopping the salbutamol from lasting 4 hours. 🥵

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to AirIsUnderrated]

Heat can make our airways swell up slightly and cause issues (and usually occurs with the triple whammy in the UK... heat, hay fever and storms). If tomorrow you are still finding 2 vent isn’t lasting 4hrs then you need to call your GP. If you’re finding that 10 vent isn’t lasting the 4hrs you need to head to hospital and get it sorted

Hope you feel better soon

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to EmmaF91]

Ah bless you - thank you for caring. I'm nowhere near hospital level, just uncomfortable. What I have is nothing - nothing, compared with most folk here. I'm on desloratadine which felt great for the first 5 days until the heat kicked in and made everything tighten up. I'm coping though.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to AirIsUnderrated]

Just speak to your GP tomorrow if it’s the same to stop it getting worse! Erm we if 10 vent isn’t helping or doesn’t last 4hours the right thing to do is go to urgent care/a&e to get it fixed. Don’t leave it! (And even if you do use 10 and it does work you need to inform your GP 😅).

A lot of ‘newbies’ 😉 are never told where/when to seek help so just wanted to double check (my first asthma attack I had no idea what it was, just knew 10 puffs wasn’t lasting 4hrs wasn’t even lasting 1... didn’t know this site or AUK so didn’t have anyone to ask... took me over 2 weeks to see a GP, they screwed up just said no infection enjoy your holiday, then 4 weeks later I managed to get another appt as no change and was informed I should have a&e’d on the first day! So now I always try to double check people know when/where to get help 😅

Hope you cool down and lungs start to behave soon! Please seek more help if you need it... I now realise exactly how lucky I was to get through those 6 weeks!

[AirIsUnderrated in reply to EmmaF91]

Thank you so much. Everybody here is so helpful, kind and patient. I really appreciate all your guidance. 🥰

[TwickChick]

I don’t have humidifiers though starting to think it may be a good investment but my mum got me a facial steamer from when I was a kid and i still use that now - great for my hay fever and asthma and I spend up to 10 mins max with my face in it and it just clears everything. I do this before bed on bad days and I can sleep through the night

[pink123floyd in reply to TwickChick]

Hi TwickChick I might try that my daughter has woken me 3 times through the night said I was breathing funny or snoring so if that helps clear out the yukky stuff and helps me and her get some sleep it's worth a try thanks for that tip ,keep safe