Greenhouses Can Cause Asthma Attacks?

I was in Washington, DC, for work and stopped by the US National Arboretum. It was heavenly! I am a plant lover and have a “slight problem” when it comes to adopting plants. It does not matter what store I am in, I have to take a detour to the plant section – just to look (wink, wink.)

Since I try to see something new each time I go to DC, I decided to stop by the arboretum. I knew I could spend all day there and it would help me relax after a stressful few weeks of work. I took one look inside the arboretum and could feel my blood pressure drop while I relaxed. Ahhhhhh, I’ll just stay here all day!

Greenhouse visit with asthma

Hit by a gust of heat and humidity

I noticed it was humid inside – but that’s normal for a giant-sized greenhouse, right? My asthma lungs had seemed okay on this trip to DC, so I was hoping they could handle the heat and humidity of the arboretum.

The main level was breathtaking, so I was glad I ventured in.

Then I noticed a walkway around the second floor. I knew I had to go up there and meander through the treetops. I had a sore knee and was wearing a knee brace, so I opted to take the elevator. As soon as the elevator doors opened, I was hit by a gust of heat and humidity. I knew my lungs were NOT going to like it up there. I could certainly feel the temperature difference between the first and second floors. Yikes!

But I came all the way up here, surely I could just take a quick stroll on the walkway and be okay, right?!

The view was worth it, and it reminded me of trips to Hawaii. I wanted to quickly snap a few photos, but there were so many things to see that I had to keep stopping for photos.

I thought I would wander to the other side of the pathway and take the elevator back down on that side. I was REALLY glad I made it to there as, by this point, the heat and humidity were too much for my lungs.

Except there wasn’t an elevator on that side of the arboretum. Just stairs. Oh great, I knew I couldn’t manage the stairs with my sore knee. I turned around to retrace my steps to get to the other side and the elevator. I had to stay calm to get back down to the main floor.

A worthwhile – but short – visit

I passed an artist who was sitting cross-legged and with art supplies spread out on a bench. She had a sandwich and drink and looked like she was going to be there all day painting the trees. I was baffled by how she could just sit there, her lungs unbothered by the heat and humidity.

As I passed her, I channeled my inner Old Lady and muttered to myself that she obviously doesn’t have asthma. Must be nice to do what she wants, when she wants without worrying about her lungs.

I made it safely down the elevator and outside the arboretum. I used a couple of puffs of my albuterol inhaler and waited for my lungs to settle down.

Was it worth it? Well, yes. I can’t help myself when I see plants. But I was annoyed that I had to cut my tour short.

Does anyone else struggle with heat and humidity? And greenhouses?