Knoch eighth grader Jamie Mahan blows into a device during asthma screening. Butler file photo

As summer starts to set in and temperatures rise Butler, area doctors — such as Dr. Michael Petrosky, an Allegheny Health Network pediatrician, of Wexford, and Dr. Shripal Shrishrimal, a pulmonologist at Butler Memorial Hospital, which is now part of Independence Health System — said the increase in heat and humidity could increase the risk of asthma hospitalizations, especially among children.

“There is a long list of things which can trigger asthma symptoms,” said Petrosky. “And temperature and humidity play a very important role in people experiencing asthma symptoms.”

According to a new study by the American Thoracic Society, the recent rising temperatures have led to an increase in children being hospitalized for asthma-related attacks. Per the report, hospitalization of asthmatic children has increased by nearly 20% across the United States during times of “extreme heat.”

Petrosky said the warmer weather can cause a person’s airway to become tighter, making it more difficult to breath during hot and humid days.

“Hot air actually causes the smooth muscles in our airways to constrict,” Petrosky said. “Imagine sucking something through a regular straw, and then you’re trying to suck something up through a coffee straw. The constriction of the airway becomes smaller.”

Shrishrimal said humidity along with temperature variance — the difference between high and low temperatures that occurs during the same day — plays an important role in how someone with asthma might be impacted by the weather.

“The temperature variance fluctuations can affect the breathing, leading to asthma symptoms,” Shrishrimal said.

The risk of hospitalization from asthma-related symptoms, especially among children, can be a concern as summer weather intensifies. Shrishrimal said with proper planning and precautions, those with asthma can still have a fun and healthy summer.

“Asthma is one of the most treatable conditions,” Shrishrimal said. “My goal as a pulmonary physician is for our patients to enjoy a complete or functional quality of life.”

Asthma is a respiratory condition in which a person’s airways narrow, making it difficult to breathe. In the United States, about 8.7% of adults over the age of 18 have asthma, and about 6.2% of children have asthma, according to the CDC.

“It’s a chronic disease of small airways in our lungs and there’s usually two main issues when it comes to asthma.” Petrosky said. “One is inflammation, where airways get swollen making it harder for air to get through … (and the other) is something as simple as a cold.”

Petrosky and Shrishrimal said pollutants in the air, which tend to increase with hotter weather, can play a factor when dealing with asthma related risks.

“When things are hot and humid, air tends to be more stagnant,” Petrosky said. “The smog and pollution stay in the air, and they’re not dispersed around as much, so you’re breathing more of that in.”

Throughout parts of last summer Butler County was under an air quality advisory for fine particulates stemming from Canadian wildfires.

“Things like the Canadian smoke, and even hurricanes and flooding, can also affect people with asthma,” Shrishrimal said. “It has to do with the airway remodeling, which leads to bronchial spams, which basically means the bronchial tubes go into a spasm.”

Knowing one’s triggers, such as shortness of breath, allergies, coughing and wheezing, can go along way when avoiding an asthma attack that could lead to hospitalization, said Petrosky.

“Sometimes it’s the viral stuff going around in winter, sometimes it’s because of allergies and sometimes it’s just from the heat and humidity,” he said. “So hopefully being aware of triggers can help someone be ready or available to help someone if they need to be treated.”

The doctors recommended keeping an extra dose of medicine, like Albuterol, readily available when conditions for an asthma attack are more prominent. They also said staying hydrated and avoiding prolonged sun exposure can help combat symptoms.

“Drink lots of water throughout the day,” Petrosky said. “Make sure you’re staying hydrated, because if you start to feel thirsty, you’re already behind in the game.”

If there is a concern with someone’s breathing, Petrosky said he suggests calling a doctor or pediatrician.

“Sometimes we might be able to talk through some things,” he said. “Otherwise we’d recommend bringing you in so we can examine the patient and come up with a good plan.”

Having asthma does not mean one has to live a sedentary lifestyle or avoid the sunshine, Petrosky said, citing Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis as an example of someone who has asthma and has been able to lead an active lifestyle.

“We know being active overall creates a better and healthy lifestyle,” he said. “Follow your specialist’s instructions, know your triggers and know when to treat symptoms with certain medicines. It’s definitely a manageable disease.”