Asthma Peak Week

Hospital stays for asthma rise each September with the highest numbers often around the third week in the month. It’s called the September Asthma Epidemic or Asthma Peak Week.

Asthma attacks spike throughout the month of September because September is also the peak for ragweed season. People who suffer from hay fever sneeze and cough in response to ragweed pollen. Ragweed pollen can be a trigger for asthma attacks.

September is also a challenging month for respiratory health because children returning to school are exposed to viruses such as rhinovirus (the main cause of the common cold). The virus and its symptoms can be asthma triggers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note asthma affects more than 25 million Americans: approximately 1 in every 13 people. Despite its prevalence and common access to treatments, asthma kills 3,600 people each year: approximately 10 people each day.

Being Prepared
It’s critically important to keep medication ready for sudden changes in weather, pollen rates, smoke from wildfires and other triggers. Being more vigilant about carrying inhalers and making sure home nebulizers are ready could buy the time a person having an asthma attack needs to summon help and medical treatment.

Ask your family and friends with asthma if they have what they need, especially if they’re engaging in activities that are outdoors or an environment that might have asthma triggers. You can also take care to eliminate and mitigate triggers in your home if you're planning to host someone with asthma.

Make a Plan
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recommends everyone with asthma have an Asthma Action Plan in writing you can implement rather than trying to figure out what to do during an attack. Preparing your plan in advance could save your life.

Actions plans should be shared. Please consider preparing a plan and reviewing it with the people who are most likely to assist you if you have an attack. Those people could be family, friends and co-workers.

Avoiding Asthma Triggers
Indoor asthma triggers like dust, scents, dust mite allergens, mold and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can significantly reduce the indoor air quality of your home. Reducing sources starts with eliminating as many sources as possible. You can then adopt strategies to mitigate the remaining sources.

Air filtration may be a significant challenge for people who are renting and don’t get to choose the quality of the air filter on the heating/cooling system. Portable filters may be too small to be effective - they might not move enough air to be effective in any space larger than a single room. They can also be prohibitively expensive.

You can make your own very effective filter with high quality filters and a box fan. It’s called a Corsi-Rosenthal Box and can be a DIY solution that’s more effective than much more pricey solutions.

Recognizing Symptoms (in Others)
Many people with asthma live with symptoms which medical professionals would call “early warning signs” of an asthma episode. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America publishes a list of common early warning signs you might not expect. It’s important to recognize and communicate your own early warning signs so other can help you.

You may be able to avoid an emergency room visit by recognizing these signs, especially a growing collection of these signs, before they’re overwhelming and trigger an episode or attack. Some of the signs, such as raised shoulders/slouching, are physical traits that differ from sneezing and itchy/watery eyes which may be confused for the symptoms of a common cold.

Speak with your family and friends to let them know your signs and ask them about their own. Communication is very important because some signs, such as elevated heart rate, may not be easy to observe.

In Conclusion
Taking care of yourself helps boost your immune system. Reducing daily stress, daily exercise, eating healthy and getting enough sleep can help us fight illness. Good hygiene such as washing our hands often can also significantly reduce the spread of germs.

You, your family members and friends are too precious to lose to an asthma attack. We hope you’ll prepare early, remain vigilant and speak with your family or friends if you notice any symptoms.

Don’t let people susceptible to severe asthma attacks be alone when triggers are at their peak. An asthma attack can cause a person to panic - even adults can make fatal choices during an attack.

We hope these notes are helpful, especially the action items such as making + documenting a plan and focusing on better indoor air quality through elimination + filtration. Please use our contact page to let us know what else we should include!