Caution: Challenging Asthma and Allergy Seasons Ahead
AAFA is here to help
It’s Sneezing Season: Ragweed in the Air
Ragweed season has begun. This pesky weed can cause big problems for people with ragweed pollen allergy.
Managing a ragweed allergy is all about awareness and action.
- Be aware of pollen counts in your area and stay inside when pollen counts are high. Check out the National Allergy Bureau for current pollen information.
- Reduce pollen inside your home by taking shoes off outside and covering your hair when outside.
- Stay on top of your allergy treatments.
Read more about managing ragweed pollen allergy and treatment options.
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Respiratory Illness Awareness
While respiratory infections like the common cold, COVID-19, and the flu can happen anytime, these illnesses tend to peak as cooler weather approaches.
Here are a few steps you can take to protect yourself from respiratory infections:
- Get your recommended vaccines for flu, COVID-19, pneumococcal, and RSV.
- Wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces.
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, especially after touching frequently used surfaces like doorknobs.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Learn more about common respiratory illnesses and how to protect yourself and the people around you.
Back to School, Back to Germs
A new school year can be exciting but can also mean a spike in respiratory illnesses as exposure to germs increases. Schools also often have poor indoor air quality.
Helping your child manage their asthma and allergies means partnering with your child’s school. You can use our guide for managing asthma and allergies at school for tips on how to help your child at different stages.
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When you give to AAFA, you ensure families have access to trusted information and tools to help them navigate the daily challenges of managing their conditions - like heading to school. Every gift makes a difference! Donate today.
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Heat Waves and Wildfires
The last weeks of summer are bringing heat waves to many parts of the country. Heat and high or low humidity can make asthma and allergy symptoms worse. Humid air can feel “heavy” and be harder to breathe, and the extra moisture in the air helps common allergens like dust mites and mold thrive, aggravating allergic asthma. Very dry air can also irritate airways.
Learn more about how weather impacts allergies and asthma, and then visit our community to let us know how you are managing in your area.
The weather conditions this time of year also mean wildfire season. Wildfires release harmful gases and small particles (PM2.5) into the air that can worsen air quality for hundreds of miles. Exposure to the air pollution caused by fires can irritate your airways and worsen your asthma symptoms.
Here are steps you can take to help keep yourself safe:
- Track your outdoor air quality at Airnow.gov.
- Exercise indoors when the outdoor air quality is unhealthy.
- Work indoors if possible – and if you must work outside, wear an N-95 mask.
- Talk with your doctor about steps to manage your asthma during times of poor air quality.
Read our most recent blog on wildfires for more on how to manage your asthma if you are in an area exposed to wildfire smoke.
High Cost of Medicines Got You Feeling Low?
A new school year can be a time to stock up on medicines for you and your family. Combine that with the potential for increased symptoms due to summer heat and ragweed season, and you could be feeling the pinch of high prices.
Talk with your doctor about treatment strategies and options. Use patient assistance programs that can help you with the cost of your medicines. Join the discussion about ways to find more affordable medicines on our community.
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Sponsored by Merck
Around 5% of adults in the U.S. live with chronic cough – a cough lasting longer than eight weeks.
Dotty W., a trained singer and music teacher, transitioned from singing classical to jazz because the style of music was easier for her to control the coughing. Despite these challenges, Dotty has not let chronic cough keep her from her passions of teaching and performing.
Dotty feels lucky to have friends who also have chronic cough. “They understand what I’m going through, and we’re able to support each other and share our feelings and tips that help us,” she says.
If you have chronic cough, you may find support in learning about other people with similar experiences, like Dotty. Visit The Cough Chronicles, an educational resource sponsored by Merck in collaboration with AAFA, the American Lung Association, and the Allergy & Asthma Network to support people living with the condition.
This is a sponsored post and is not an endorsement of any company or its products, nor is it a guarantee of a product’s safety. The funding we received for this sponsorship helps support our no-cost asthma and allergy programs.
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If you have a condition, such as atopic dermatitis (the most common type of eczema) or asthma, it helps to understand type 2 inflammation. Join our expert panel as we talk about:
- What type 2 inflammation is and what diseases it may play a role in
- Disease burden and its impact on day-to-day life
- Familial ties and co-existing conditions
- Managing your condition(s) and talking to your doctor
- And answers to questions from you!
Save the date now for our webinar on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT).
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This webinar is sponsored by Sanofi and Regeneron®.
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Do your nasal polyps, or chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), symptoms impact your quality of life? Join us for a live webinar, “Making Your Voice Heard: Could Your Nasal Polyps Benefit from a Biologic Medicine?“ on Thursday, Sept. 7, at noon ET. During the session, an expert panel will discuss treatment options for poorly controlled nasal polyps, the effectiveness and safety of biologics, and much more.
Register to save your spot for the live presentation or watch later on demand.
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The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and its Kids with Food Allergies (KFA) division are conducting a brief survey to better understand how we can help improve the quality of life for people with asthma, food allergies, and other allergic diseases. We would like to know how you use our programs and services and what you’d like to see from us in the future.
The survey should take less than 15 minutes to complete. At the end of the survey, you can enter for a chance to receive a reward.
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Check out our previous issue to learn about research on asthma in teens, meat allergy, long COVID, and more
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