Does Your Asthma Suffer at Higher Elevations?
Does Your Asthma Suffer at Higher Elevations?
The prospect of harm has probably gone through your mind if you suffer from asthma and like outdoor activities that take you to greater heights. Although it should serve as a warning, the news isn't all negative.
Breathing becomes increasingly difficult for people with asthma, a chronic lung disease. Asthmatics often have airway hyperreactivity. When someone has asthma, their airways are inflamed and react by constricting and constricting, which makes it harder for air to pass through and prevents air from reaching their lungs.
It's a fact that people with asthma are at a higher risk of experiencing altitude sickness compared to those without the ailment. But if you're in good health and your asthma is under control, you shouldn't have any trouble. The caveat is that you need to take it easy and know your limits for this to work.
When it comes to stable asthmatics, altitude usually isn't a big deal.
Air travel increases the risk of additional hypoxia in people with severe asthma who already have low blood oxygen levels. In addition to the dry, chilly weather often found at higher elevations, that could set off asthma attacks. Furthermore, if you are not accustomed to the high altitude and do not have much time to acclimate, you may find that your symptoms are worse when you arrive at a high-altitude place, like Denver. Always with your physician before doing anything like this.
Trekking at high altitudes might exacerbate severe asthma, especially if you've been taking a bronchodilator three times a week for the past year. Dry, chilly weather, as previously said, is more common at higher elevations and can worsen the sickness. As an isolated activity, climbing can be rather taxing on the body and can bring on an attack of exercise-induced asthma in certain individuals.
Next, think about your inhaler. Because of the cold, pressurized inhalers could not function as intended. Make use of your hands' natural heat to warm up yours before use.
Talking to your doctor about your trip at least a few weeks before you leave is a good idea. With this extra time, you can prepare a specific strategy for managing your asthma while traveling. Some examples of this include making sure you have enough of your medication and a backup plan, measuring your peak flow while away to see how your lung function is impacted by altitude, or increasing your preventer treatment a few weeks before your trip to give your airways extra protection.
Avoiding high heights is not necessary. Be careful to follow some simple safety measures. To keep your airways wet, humid air is definitely preferable. With proper management of your asthma, though, you can avoid the repercussions of dry, chilly air. In fact, going to higher elevations, where house dust mites can't thrive, may help certain asthma sufferers' symptoms, especially those whose asthma is driven by these tiny insects.
Before any forthcoming travels to high altitudes, consult your doctor. Listen to his advise, and have a safe journey!
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