Most plans have stages, based on the percentage of your best peak-flow reading that you can achieve, and specify a course of action you should pursue at each stage. Having a plan in place and following it makes having an attack much less dangerous and frightening. If you must have a dog or cat, bathing your pet weekly may help cut down on the dander in your environment. You may have been hoping to get a reprieve from symptoms with the change of season. Unfortunately, people with asthma can actually find their condition worsening when the cold weather hits.
Asthma attacks are more common in winter, especially among children.
For starters, one of the most common asthma triggers is a respiratory infection like a cold or the flu, and winter is prime time for such infections. People also tend to spend more time indoors this time of year, which increases their exposure to dust mites, dander, mold and other indoor triggers. When they do go outside, the cold air can be a trigger too. Breathing cold, low-humidity air cools and dries the airways, and this irritation can lead to an attack. When outdoor exercise is added to the mix, the rapid open- mouthed breathing prevents the cold air from warming before it reaches the lungs, making an attack even more likely.