Humidity affects asthma in two ways. First, humidity can affect asthma directly. Second, high indoor humidity can foster mold growth which can trigger asthma. Understanding asthma and humidity can help an asthma patient prevent asthma attacks. Anything a person with asthma can learn about potential threats to their respiratory health can help them prevent problems and avoid asthma attacks.

Asthma and humidity can make it difficult to breathe. Humidity in summer can be made even more aggravating to asthma when mold count in the air is high. Hot temperatures increase the body’s need for oxygen. Humidity makes it more difficult for someone to be able to cool their body temperature. For people with asthma, this means that their body is struggling to provide for the increased demand for oxygen.

Humid weather is especially difficult for asthma patients for whom their symptoms are not effectively controlled. For people whose asthma is well-controlled on preventative medication, they may not feel the effects of humidity on their breathing as much as someone with asthma whose symptoms and airway inflammation are not effectively controlled.

Mold is a common trigger for asthma inflammation. In fact, sensitivity to mold has been found to increase the severity of asthma. Other triggers may cause asthma symptoms, but they do not increase the severity of asthma like mold can. Mold is also problematic since a lot of mold exposure occurs indoors where a lot of people spend most of their time.

Since mold also poses other health concerns, people should remove any mold from their home. If there is a small area of mold, the person can remove the mold with a bleach and water solution. In the United States, any residential mold growth that is over one hundred square feet needs to be professionally removed. If mold is found on a wall, be aware that more mold can exist within the wall.

Mold thrives in moist environments. To prevent mold growth, any leaky pipes need to be fixed. People should keep the humidity in their homes between thirty-five and fifty percent. In areas where the air is humid, a dehumidifier can help keep air inside the home within the range that will not encourage mold growth. In hot, humid weather, an air conditioner with a good filter can help improve the air quality in the home. Indoor humidity can be lowered by opening some windows during dry weather.