Asthma and Allergies: Tips for Feeling Better
If May has you reaching for tissues or feeling a little short of breath, you are not alone. Spring brings beautiful weather, but it also brings pollen, dust, and other triggers that can make asthma and allergy symptoms worse.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) declared May as National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. The timing is intentional, lining up with peak spring allergy season when asthma symptoms often worsen. Here’ s what you need to know to feel better this season.
What to know:
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Seasonal allergies can trigger asthma symptoms and sometimes lead to an asthma attack, so knowing your triggers matters.
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Preventive care is available to AZ Blue Members, so you can talk to your doctor about asthma and allergy concerns before they get worse.
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AZ Blue is making it easier to connect with a doctor from home through Telehealth, to get immediate help for those tough allergies.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is lung condition that causes the airways to swell and narrow, making harder to breathe.
It affects both children and adults, and symptoms can come and go. Some people manage asthma easily with medication and small lifestyle changes. Others have flare-ups triggered by exercise, allergens, cold air, or stress.
What Are the Symptoms of Asthma?
Common symptoms include:
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Shortness of breath
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Coughing, especially at night
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Wheezing or whistling sound when breathing
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Chest tightness or pressure
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Trouble breathing during physical activity.
What Is an Allergy?
An allergy is your immune system overacting to something that is usually harmless, like pollen, dust, or pet dander.
Allergens can enter your body in a few different ways. You might breathe them in, eat them, touch them, or have them injected (like a bee sting). Your immune system treats them as a threat and goes into defense mode, causing those familiar symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny nose.
How Do Seasonal Allergies Affect Asthma?
If you have asthma, you may notice it gets worse during allergy season. Here is why.
When your immune system spots an allergen, it releases a chemical called immunoglobulin E (IgE) to fight it off. A little IgE is helpful. Too much can cause swelling in your airways, making it harder to breathe and sometimes trigger an asthma attack.
That is why people with both asthma and allergies often feel double the impact in spring. The pollen that makes your eyes itch can also tighten your chest.
Tips for Feeling Better This Allergy Season
You cannot control the weather, but you can take steps to reduce your exposure and feel better. Here are a few simple tips:
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Keep windows and doors shut at home and in the car to keep pollen outside.
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Stay indoors during peak pollen hours, usually mid-morning to early afternoon.
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Check the daily pollen count before heading out and plan around it.
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Wear a mask for outdoor chores like mowing the lawn or gardening.
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Shower and change clothes after spending time outside to wash off pollen.
If you have been struggling with asthma or allergies, you do not have to push through it. Talk to your doctor, take small steps to reduce your exposure, and give yourself permission to slow down on high-pollen days.
Need to find a doctor? Log in to your AZ Blue member portal and click Find Care.