asthma and weather

[ynot]

HELLO-


About 8 months ago I moved from Colorado, where I had lived for over 15 years, to West Texas.  In Colorado I had asthma (EIA + at night + cold air), but within 2 weeks after moving here my asthma went away--completely.  I have not used my inhaler a single time since.  The weather in Colorado was generally drier, whereas here the humidity at night is much higher, but during the day the H. level drops to a similar level of Colorado.  Recently I was offered a job transfer to Las Cruces NM, where the humidity levels are much lower than Colorado and West Texas (Midland), but similar temperatures and elevation to Midland.  Two more ancillary facts: I grew up in Iowa--very humid and had no asthma + I have lost over fifty pounds since coming to Texas.  Finally, then, my question is: If I move to Las Cruces, what are the chances that my asthma will return?

THANK-YOU

[National Jewish]

Once you have asthma, you always have asthma.  It is possible to go through a period of time without symptoms, but it is also possible that the symptoms may return at any point in time.  With asthma the basic problem is chronic inflammation along with tightness of the airways of the lungs.  This inflammation increases the sensitivity of the airways to a variety of things that make asthma worse.  These things are called triggers and vary from person to person.  For some people humidity causes more asthma symptoms, but for other people humidity causes less asthma symptoms.  It is impossible to say what the chances are that your asthma symptoms will return after moving to an area where the humidity levels are much lower.  However what can be said is that your asthma symptoms may or may not return.  Please read our What Makes Asthma Worse MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/worse.html for more detailed information.

[jobrucehoo]

I can definitely relate with what you are saying.  I have always lived in southwest Ohio and am never really at ease until winter comes and all the plants etc are dead and not giving off pollen and the air becomes much cleaner.  It really stinks because my Asthma seems to have gotten worse as I have gotten older and I have come to love the summer.  Now I almost dread it.  The weird thing is that I can go on vacation in Florida (Tampa Area) and I am fine.  I visited Colorado (Denver area) about 3 years ago and I was much better out there as well.  I have also felt better in California.  It may be worth your while, if you can to actually go there and spend a week to see how well you do.  It has been my experience that everyone has different asthma triggers and you may not really know until you go there.  I know this is easier said than done but if you can pull it off it may be worth your while.

[Jane1]

Personally it is hard to say - Sometimes the simple act of moving from one area to another can improve or disimprove the Asthma - I lived in a smoggy city for years - My Asthma was controlled by medication - moved to the fresh air and unpolluted countryside and my asthma worsened initially for the first few years - Now if I travel back to my hometown I get wheezy very easily.  My Asthma is temperature related the cold crisp winters normally exude the worst in my lungs - however the height of summer and pollen does almost the same - one thing that definetly increases it is damp, house damp particularly.  So humidy plays its part - but I think if the opportunity to move is too much to pass up maybe you should do some research on the prevalence of Asthma in the region prior to moving or even try a couple of weeks holiday there and see how you feel. Weigh up the benefits of moving against the possible health implications and see if one outweighs the other - afterall if the move makes you sick and unable to enjoy life albeit temporarily, you must ask yourself is it really worth that.