Melanie Carver
Melanie Carver, vice president of digital strategy and community services, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Landover, Maryland. AAFA.org
Bottom Line: Here’s how to vacation in comfort if you suffer from asthma.
I’m planning a vacation, but I have asthma and want to make sure I enjoy my trip. Are there places that are better for people with asthma—or places that are worse?
Spending your long-anticipated time off laid low with asthma symptoms isn’t anyone’s idea of a fun vacation. So the first thing to keep in mind when you’re poring over glossy brochures of dream locales is to know and recognize your asthma triggers. For example, if hot, humid air makes you breathless and wheezy, a week on the Gulf coast is a riskier getaway for you. Or if cold, windy air brings on symptoms, then you’d be better off skipping the sites in locales with those kinds of climate. But besides your specific triggers, anyone with asthma should avoid exposure to bad air quality and pollution. In fact, when air quality is very poor, people with asthma are advised to stay indoors with their windows closed—most likely not exactly the vacation itinerary you had in mind. If your asthma is triggered by pollen, it’s a good idea to check out the pollen count where you’re traveling on AccuWeather.com and Pollen.com. If you have to drive in an area that has a high count for the particular pollen that triggers your symptoms and/or bad air quality, keep your car windows rolled up and the air-conditioning on. To find places that you might particularly want to avoid, check the list of Asthma Capitals on the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) site. The list ranks the 100 largest cities in the US according to how challenging they are for people with asthma. AAFA looks at 13 factors, including air quality, pollen counts and smoking laws. The most recent Asthma Capitals report names Memphis, Richmond (Virginia), Philadelphia, Detroit and Oklahoma City as the five worst US cities for asthma sufferers. Be prepared: Before heading off on your vacation, be sure to follow your treatment plan so your asthma is under control before you go. If you take medications, bring enough to last at least the length of your trip—and, ideally, a bit longer in the event that your return home is delayed. Also, keep emergency medications (such as rescue inhalers) on you at all times. If you depend on an inhaler, bring an extra in case one runs out…or you leave it behind in a hotel room or restaurant. If you’re flying or traveling by train, pack some sanitizing wipes to wipe down tray tables and armrests to remove pet dander. Note: Even if there is no pet on board, pet dander is always present on planes and trains because the dander travels on people’s clothing. AAFA has more tips for traveling safely with asthma. Wishing you happy, healthy trails—and easy breathing!
