Here’s How Seattle Residents Can Manage Their Asthma

This is not medical advice.

According to the Washington State Department of Health, more than 600,000 people have asthma in Washington, including nearly 120,000 children. Seattle residents in particular may struggle with their asthma symptoms: In the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s 2021 list of “The Top 100 Most Challenging Places to Live With Asthma,” Seattle was ranked at No. 64.

In addition to coping with a strong pollen presence and the potential for air pollution, asthma sufferers may find it difficult to manage their symptoms in Seattle due to reasons beyond their control, such as genetics, their surroundings at their workplace and their overall immune system.

If you suffer from asthma in the Seattle area, here are some insights on how to help manage your symptoms and get the medication you need quickly and affordably.

What Is Asthma?

Asthma is a respiratory condition that causes your airways to narrow and swell, often producing extra mucus. Asthma symptoms can include shortness of breath, wheezing when exhaling and chest tightness. The severity of one’s asthma varies from person to person. Some sufferers only deal with minor interferences in their daily life, while others with more extreme cases have more pronounced symptoms that require additional monitoring and medication.

Certain actions and environments can have more of an effect on a person’s asthma, triggering it and even potentially worsening its severity. Although everyone’s asthma comes on differently, some common triggers include airborne allergens and inhaled irritants such as smoke, dust or pollen, respiratory infections, certain medications, lifestyle factors, and even additives that are in certain foods and drinks such as sulfites.

Symptoms can severely flare up, caused by situations such as exercise-induced asthma, occupational asthma, where workplace irritants are present, and allergy-induced asthma.

Causes And Risk Factors Of Asthma

Asthma is caused by a combination of different factors. Some of the common causes include:

Genetics

Genetics and family history, including previous health issues and habits, play a huge role in developing asthma, as it is often passed down to children through their parents’ genetics. According to the American Lung Association, a person is three to six times more likely to develop asthma if their parent is asthmatic.

Immune System

Your body’s defense system can be another cause of asthma. A weak immune system can cause the onset of asthma and make you more susceptible to worse symptoms, including severe flare-ups, due to your body's defense response to outside factors.

Environment

Depending on your surroundings, the environment can have a big impact on your asthma. Areas with higher levels of pollution such as smoke, car or other industrial fumes can cause asthma to develop. Additionally, airborne allergens and irritants can cause and trigger asthma, as your body needs to work up a defense in order to breathe properly in conditions such as these.

Other Risk Factors

In addition to the causes listed above, the American Lung Association names several risk factors that exacerbate asthma symptoms:

• Viral respiratory infections — Respiratory infections can have a lasting effect on your body. For example, a respiratory problem that caused wheezing during infancy or early childhood can later develop into an asthma condition.
• Allergies — Those with allergic conditions are at greater risk for developing asthma, due to the body's heightened response to allergens.
• Occupational exposures — Exposure to various irritants and chemicals within the workplace can further asthma symptoms. Repeated exposure to elements such as chemical fumes, dangerous molds and heavy industrial or wood dust can cause asthma to develop in people for the first time.
• Smoking — Smoking not only increases the likelihood of developing asthma in your own body, but it can also cause asthma symptoms to be passed down to future generations. Cigarettes are irritants that cause inflammation in your airways. Smoking during pregnancy, or even being exposed to secondhand smoke, increases the future generation’s risk of developing asthma.
• Air pollution — Air pollution is another irritant that can increase the risk of developing asthma, due to the effect it has on our body and ability to breathe. Those who live in an urban environment are at a greater risk of developing asthma due to smog and other pollution.
• Obesity — While experts aren’t sure why there is a link between obesity and asthma, those who are overweight have a greater risk of developing asthma. Experts believe the use of additional medications generally taken in those who are overweight, along with low-grade inflammation that occurs due to extra weight, are both possible causes as to why it’s harder to control asthma for those who are overweight.

How Seattle Residents Can Manage Their Asthma

Managing asthma isn’t easy in Seattle, but with precautions and the right medication, you can help reduce triggers and alleviate symptoms.

How To Reduce Exposure To Pollution

Reducing your exposure to pollution can drastically improve and control asthma symptoms, especially for those in the high-risk group. There are numerous steps asthmatics can take to reduce their exposure to pollution.

First and foremost, keep track of air quality data. Monitoring this data can help control symptoms by avoiding being outside on days where pollution is heightened. On these days, asthma sufferers will want to stay inside when possible and should avoid any kind of strenuous activities, especially outdoors.

For those who walk or bike, rerouting your commute to travel in low-traffic areas and at less-popular times can help provide you with more open space to get fresh air. For example, traveling outside of rush hour and using less-populated streets will help you avoid congestion and high levels of pollution from things such as exhaust fumes.

Within the home, things such as wood fires can cause asthma symptoms to flare up, as burning wood causes particles to be released into the air of the home.

Lastly, having a High-Efficiency Particulate Arrestance air purifier around the home can help reduce the allergens and irritants in the air that are triggering symptoms.

How To Obtain Asthma Medication

Depending on the severity of your asthma, you’ll need different types of medications to manage your symptoms:

• Inhalers — The most common medication is an inhaler. Inhalers administer medication by inhaling through the mouth directly into the lungs to provide quick relief.
• Nebulizers — A nebulizer is a machine that turns liquid medication into a mist. Nebulizers require you to take deep breaths and slowly take the medicine over a period of 10 to 15 minutes.
• Liquids — Liquid medication can help in situations not requiring quick relief. They can be taken over time to alleviate symptoms and open the airways.
• Pills — Medicated relief in the form of pills is available to help relax the airways and gradually ease the body’s response to irritants.

GoodRx Is Here For Asthma Sufferers

If you suffer from asthma, GoodRx can help get you the relief you need without hurting your wallet. Whether you need professional online health care or just want to find the most affordable rate for your asthma medication, GoodRx’s services can make a difference. Their easy-to-use search tool and the convenient GoodRx app allow you to immediately start sourcing drug coupons and comparing medication prices at pharmacies in Seattle so you can select the option that works best for you.

You can also take advantage of GoodRx’s coupon program to save even more money on asthma prescriptions. Simply enter the name of your medication, search for and save free coupons, and bring it to the pharmacy when picking up your prescription to save up to 80 percent.

Visit GoodRx today to find the best deals in your area. Download the GoodRx app or use its drug search tool on GoodRx.com to find the lowest price for your prescriptions today!