If you have asthma, spring can be a challenging season. Blooming plants, trees, and flowers release pollen that can inflame and restrict lung airways, making it difficult to breathe. Additional factors such as mold spores and assorted grasses also trigger asthma flare-ups that cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Prescriptions from your local pharmacy combined with other preventative measures can manage asthma flare-ups. Here are a few simple ways to prepare for the season ahead.

How to Control Asthma in Springtime

1. Check the Daily Pollen Report

Review the outdoor air quality report every morning to help plan your day. Pollen counts are generally highest between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. when most plants release the asthma-triggering substance. 

Stay indoors when counts are high, especially if outdoor air pollution is one of your asthma triggers that makes breathing difficult. If you can’t avoid the outdoors, wear a particle mask that prevents you from inhaling small pollen particles.  

2. Keep Your Inhaler Within Reach

Do not leave home without your inhaler, and ensure you use it properly every time if you are new to its usage. Shake the canister for about 10 seconds before removing the cap, and take a slow, deep breath through your mouth to get the prescription medicine into your lungs. 

Do not breathe through your nose. Hold your breath for about 30 seconds, then repeat the process up to two more times if symptoms are severe. 

3. Stay Active

Enjoy an active lifestyle that helps reduce stress and manage your weight. Stress hormones can inflame the lungs, while excess weight puts pressure on the airways and compromises lung volume to make breathing difficult. 

Exercise releases endorphins that promote euphoric feelings and lower stress levels. Working out also burns calories and fat to promote a healthy body composition. 

4. Change Your Clothes After Being Outdoors

Take showers after spending time outside to remove pollen from your hair and skin, and put on different clothes. Allowing pollen to remain on skin, hair, and clothes increases the risk of asthma attacks and spreads the substance to furniture and bedding, causing further discomfort. Leave your shoes at the front door for the same reason. 

Fight back against asthma with prescriptions and inhaler refills from Anderson Pharmacy. The Denver, PA-based community pharmacy has served Lancaster and Berks counties since 1994, providing quality prescriptions as well as an on-premise gift shop that sells greeting cards, Russell Stover® chocolates, and other items. Call (717) 484-2649 today with prescription refill questions or visit the pharmacy online for more information.