Asthma Capitals: Pollen
In AAFA's Asthma Capitals Report
, we looked at eight risk factors that can affect asthma rates: poverty, lack of health insurance, poor air quality, pollen counts, long-term control medicine use, quick-relief medicine use, smoking laws and access to specialists.
Substances that cause allergies (allergens) can trigger asthma. If you inhale something you are allergic to, you may have asthma symptoms. This is called allergic asthma.
Pollen is a common allergen that can cause allergic asthma. An allergist can confirm if you have allergies. They can do this with a skin or blood test.
If pollen is an asthma trigger for you, you can reduce your exposure to pollen. These include:
- Limiting outdoor activities when pollen counts are high
- Keeping windows closed during pollen season and CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® air cleaners and filters on your central air conditioning and HVAC units
- Bathing and shampooing before bed
- Changing and washing clothing after outdoor activities
- Wash bedding in hot, soapy water once a week
- Wear sunglasses and a hat – this will help keep pollen out of your eyes and off your hair
- Limit close contact with pets that spend a lot of time outdoors
- Dry your clothes in a clothes dryer, not on an outdoor line
Allergen Control
Asthma management involves taking medicine and avoiding your asthma triggers. Your asthma triggers may include irritants like air pollution or allergens like pollen.
Other allergens can also trigger asthma. Dust mites, cockroach debris, mouse dander, pet dander and mold can all trigger asthma. There are things you can do to control your environment and reduce exposure to allergens and irritants.
The asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program sets high standards, and then scientifically tests products to see if they meet those standards. Only products and services that pass every test will receive this mark:
