Wacky Weather Changes

I moved to the Midwest a few years ago and I have absolutely loved having all four seasons which was something I had never experienced before as I was born and raised in Southern California. Before we moved, I had a vision in my head of how the changing of the seasons would be. A slow evolvement from summer to fall, fall to winter, winter to spring, and so on. It would be magical. While it is magical, it’s definitely not what I had envisioned in my head! Often times there are drastic weather swings from day to day when the seasons are changing and it can really bother my asthma and lungs.

Fall is in full swing in the Midwest and it is my favorite time of the year. The rich vibrant colors of the leaves as they change and the less humid, cooler weather make it perfect for a cozy sweater. As much as I love fall, my lungs aren’t always thrilled this time of the year. Being prepared and knowing how to handle your asthma during this time is key.

Tips for managing asthma during weather changes

Here are three tips that have helped me tremendously.

Check the weather forecast

I heard a saying almost immediately upon moving to the Midwest that ‘if you don’t like the weather, just wait fifteen minutes.’ This couldn’t be more true! The weather here is constantly changing. It can be bright and sunny in the morning and within an hour the sky is dark and my phone is alerting me to a severe thunderstorm and to seek shelter if outdoors. And then thirty minutes later it’s bright and sunny again.

One thing I have learned is to keep an eye on the weather. I have a few weather apps on my phone and check them every day. I have alerts set to alarm if there is going to be any drastic changes in the weather that I should know about so I can be prepared.

Keep an eye on air quality

Air quality is a big one when the seasons and weather are changing. Now that it is fall, the pollens are high and there are fires around which can make the air quality less than ideal. Farmers are starting to harvest their crops and spray their fields which can lead to a lot of issues for us asthmatics.

Prior to moving to this part of the country I never had any issues with allergies. Now I have to take daily allergy medicine and really be careful. In addition to watching the weather, I also have an air quality app on my phone that alerts me when the conditions are changing.

Be prepared

Since the weather can change very quickly here, it’s super important to be prepared for pretty much anything. Double-check that you have your rescue inhaler with you when you leave your house and that it is easily accessible when you are out and about.

If the air quality is predicted to be bad, keep your windows closed. Plan your trips out of your home based on the weather if you are able.

Share some tips for navigating weather changes with asthma

These are just a few tips that I have found very useful when the weather is being extra wacky.

What additional tips and tricks have you found helpful? Comment below!