Managing asthma in the heat: what patients need to know

Charlotte is one of nearly 27 million Americans living with asthma. During her appointment, she breathes into a FeNO test device, which measures inflammation levels in the lungs and helps doctors better monitor asthma symptoms.

East Carolina University regional respiratory therapist Bailey Edwards demonstrates the go-to device helping asthma patients breathe easier and manage their condition more effectively.

“The primary treatment for asthma would be albuterol,” Edwards says. “It’s a bronchodilator, meaning it relaxes the muscles in the lungs when they become tight. If you breathe in really cold air, those muscles can tighten, causing wheezing or chest tightness. Albuterol helps relax those muscles.”

Edwards says if albuterol alone does not provide enough relief, therapists may prescribe an inhaled steroid to help reduce swelling and inflammation over time.

May is Asthma Awareness Month, and health experts remind patients to always keep their inhaler nearby.