PHX Reporter

• Colder weather can cause more severe symptoms in asthma sufferers.

• Allergy triggers can also set off asthma attacks.

• Undergoing allergy treatment can help reduce asthma symptoms.    

Dr. John Stewart of Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers points out that allergies can trigger asthma. In fact, the two are closely related.

"A lot of pulmonologists look at asthma as basically an allergy of the lung, but it's a chronic inflammatory response that is often triggered by allergens themselves. Part of the management, for a lot of pulmonologists, is having patients undergo immunotherapy to get over their allergies," Stewart told PHX Reporter. "They find this [works], especially with IgE-induced ( immunoglobulin E) asthma. There is basically a direct correlation between that and asthma. So getting their allergies treated helps both conditions."

Asthma sufferers might notice that their symptoms become more severe during winter, thanks to dry air and abrupt changes in the weather, according to Temple Lung Center. Dry air causes a decrease in protective fluid in the airways, which can make the airways inflamed and irritated, which can then trigger asthma symptoms. Asthma symptoms can include coughing, shortness of breath, tightness and pain in the chest, and wheezing.

Common colds are also more prevalent during the winter, and those respiratory illnesses can cause the airways to become swollen and irritated, which can set off asthma symptoms. A few simple strategies to combat asthma attacks brought on by cold weather are dressing warmly when you go outside, breathing through the nose as much as possible, using a humidifier, exercising indoors and staying hydrated. Frequently washing your hands can also help reduce your chances of catching a cold or the flu.

Many people who suffer from asthma also suffer from allergies, and some allergy triggers can set off asthma symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic. The immune system's response to fighting off allergens involves releasing chemicals that can lead to a runny nose, congestion or skin reactions, and those responses can affect the airways, triggering asthma symptoms.

Allergy treatments, such as immunotherapy, can reduce the body's reaction to allergens, which over time also decreases asthma symptoms.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.