Does weather have an impact on asthma?

It really depends on the type of asthma a person has. But, the short answer is Yes. Humidity and change in temperature are big culprits for triggering asthma problems. Change in weather can irritate the airways enough to create wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and any number of other asthma related symptoms.

Cold air can be dry. To humidify it, your airway cells have to give up some of their moisture, and this causes the release of chemicals that trigger asthma. Warm air can be humid, making the air feel thick and hard to inhale. It can also create an environment in your home that is ideal for the growth of common allergens like dust mites and mold. It’s best to keep the humidity in your home between 35-50 percent.

There is no question that weather can have a dramatic impact on one's asthma. Some asthma exacerbations are triggered by cold air and winter conditions. Other exacerbations can be related to the heat and humidity that typifies the summertime weather.

It definitely affects me. We just had a heat wave; the heat is still hanging round a bit and when we had that heat wave it was terrible cos my asthma was playing up something wicked.