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Asthma News
Apr. 4, 2024 — Scientists have discovered a new cause for asthma that sparks hope for treatment that could prevent the life-threatening ...
Apr. 4, 2024 — Researchers have made a breakthrough into how two chronic respiratory diseases in childhood affect the immune system, paving the way for better ...
Mar. 13, 2024 — Exposure to several combinations of toxic atmospheric pollutants may be triggering asthma symptoms among children, a recent analysis suggests. The study showed that 25 different combinations of air ...
Mar. 13, 2024 — Research finds a nearly 40% decline in the annual average concentration of respirable particulate matter (PM2.5) in Krakow, Poland, between 2010 and 2019 following the implementation of clean air ...
Mar. 12, 2024 — A new study finds that pollution from oil and gas venting and flaring results in $7.4 billion in health damages, more than 700 premature deaths, and 73,000 asthma exacerbations among children ...
Mar. 12, 2024 — A new study finds that policies to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from motor vehicles combined with investments in electric vehicles and public transportation would reduce air pollution and ...
Feb. 27, 2024 — Cooking on your gas stove can emit more nano-sized particles into the air than vehicles that run on gas or diesel, possibly increasing your risk of developing asthma or other respiratory illnesses, a ...
Feb. 25, 2024 — A drug that binds to allergy-causing antibodies can protect children from dangerous reactions to accidentally eating allergy-triggering foods, a new study ...
Jan. 30, 2024 — Asthma is more common among high school students who use cannabis, relative to those who do not and the prevalence of asthma increases with the frequency of its use among the students, according to a ...
Jan. 8, 2024 — Measuring airborne grass allergen levels instead of pollen counts will be more beneficial for hay fever sufferers as new research shows grass allergen levels are more consistently associated with hay ...
Dec. 21, 2023 — Researchers have gained a deeper understanding of the nuanced roles of JAK inhibitors, or modulators, in inflammation across various cell types and ...
Dec. 8, 2023 — A landmark study has shown that severe asthma can be controlled using biologic therapies, without the addition of regular high-dose inhaled steroids which can have significant side ...
Dec. 6, 2023 — Researchers have identified an allergy pathway that, when blocked, unleashes antitumor immunity in mouse models of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). And in an early parallel study in humans, ...
Nov. 9, 2023 — A review of 15 years' worth of data found that vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy was linked to reduced rates of asthma and wheezing in children compared to standard prenatal ...
Oct. 25, 2023 — Atrial fibrillation (AF) diagnosis was associated with a 45% increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among a cohort of 4.3 million individuals in the UK, according to a new ...
Oct. 23, 2023 — Scientists have uncovered a group of immune cells that may drive severe asthma. These cells gather in the lungs and appear to cause the most harm in men who develop asthma in later ...
Oct. 19, 2023 — Scientists have developed a genome-scale metabolic model or 'subway map' of key metabolic activities of the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Using this map, they have successfully ...
Oct. 13, 2023 — It can be a relief to scratch the occasional itch, but when itch gets out of control, it can become a serious health problem. How does the body know when to ...
Sep. 21, 2023 — The western edge of Chicago -- including the North and South Lawndale, East Garfield Park, Archer Heights and Brighton Park neighborhoods -- experiences up to 32% higher concentrations of nitrogen ...
Sep. 12, 2023 — Particular combinations of bacteria found in dust at day care facilities have been linked to wheezing in young children. Wheezing in young children is often an early sign of asthma. The new research ...
Can An Asthma Attack Be Helped By Hot Showers?
Many people take a hot shower to soothe their breathing when they're congested. With asthma attacks, however, the way hot showers affect your symptoms can vary.
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition. It's caused when inflammation in your airways creates swelling and mucus buildup, narrowing the tubes that transport air in and out of your lungs.
Inflammation in asthma stems from respiratory hypersensitivity. Allergens and irritants that might be otherwise harmless can trigger an immune response that sets off a chain of events, making it difficult to breathe.
While some people with asthma find that hot showers bring some relief, a hot shower is unlikely to stop an asthma attack, and it may be an asthma trigger on its own.
Asthma is a persistent condition that can fluctuate in severity. When you encounter something that makes your symptoms worse, it's known as an asthma trigger. Asthma triggers can vary by individual, and how they affect your symptoms can depend on the trigger itself and the circumstances of your exposure.
When your asthma symptoms suddenly worsen, it's known as an asthma attack, asthma flare-up, or asthma exacerbation.
Asthma attacks can develop gradually or rapidly. They can cause a mild increase in symptoms, or symptoms might become severe enough to require emergency medical care. You might not have the same level of reaction to a trigger every time you encounter it.
Common asthma triggers include:
There's currently no evidence that proves taking a hot shower for an asthma attack is effective.
Asthma is an inflammatory condition primarily related to hypersensitivity in your airways. Taking a hot shower won't stop the response from your immune system if you've encountered a trigger.
A hot shower might help relieve some of your general symptoms, however. Research suggests breathing in steam can moisturize your airways, reducing irritation. The heat and humidity can promote mucus thinning and drainage.
If you've encountered an asthma trigger that's lingering on your skin or in your hair (like pollen), a hot shower might also help by washing away the irritant.
However, taking a hot shower isn't right for everyone living with asthma. Heat and humidity can be asthma triggers for certain people. An older study from 2016 investigating bathing habits with asthma found hot baths triggered asthma symptoms in approximately 28% of participants.
Although the research focused on hot baths, not showers, participants reported vapor inhalation (steam) as their primary asthma trigger, followed by a sudden change in air temperature. Also, about 17% of subjects actually experienced improvement in active asthma symptoms while bathing.
Hot, humid air, even in your shower, can also encourage the activity of certain molds, dust mites, and bacteria that might worsen your symptoms.
If you're wondering about using hot showers therapeutically for asthma, an allergist can make recommendations regarding the ideal temperature and duration of exposure.
Extreme temperatures can trigger asthma, but cold is more likely than heat to worsen symptoms. Even if you don't live with asthma, cold air can cause airway inflammation, narrowing, and increased sensitivity.
Taking a cold shower when you aren't used to one can also shock your body. If the water is cold enough it could activate your dive reflex, an automatic gasp for breath when your body goes into cold water survival mode.
Rapid breathing, combined with changes in your airways from the cold, could make your asthma symptoms feel worse.
If you're having an asthma attack, your asthma action plan outlines the best steps to take for immediate symptom relief, but effective asthma management can decrease the severity of asthma attacks overall.
Beneficial asthma management strategies include:
Effectively managing your asthma doesn't mean you'll never have an asthma attack, but it can reduce the frequency and severity of your symptoms if an attack happens.
The American Lung Association indicates asthma is considered well-controlled when:
Taking a hot shower for an asthma attack isn't likely to stop an asthma attack. For some people, a hot shower could even trigger asthma or worsen symptoms.
When you experience an asthma attack, your asthma action plan outlines the steps and medications recommended by your doctor to relieve symptoms.
In addition to these immediate relief options, effective asthma management may help improve asthma attack symptoms overall.
Asthma Attack: Learn First Aid
2. Reassure them. If the attack becomes severe, or they don't have their inhaler, call 999.
A mild attack should ease within a few minutes. If it doesn't, they can continue to take their inhaler. You should call 999 if they they don't have their inhaler, their inhaler has no effect, they are becoming worse or they become unable to talk. Do not leave them, in case the attack becomes severe quickly. If you can't call 999, get someone else to do it.
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