What Makes Fall a Challenging Time for People with Asthma?

More than 27 million people in the U.S. have asthma. And every September, a combination of factors create conditions that make asthma worse. This is why September is called “Asthma Peak Month.” Understanding what causes Asthma Peak Month can help you tackle this challenging season and stay on top of your asthma management.  What Causes Asthma Peak Month? Asthma is the leading chronic disease in children and a leading cause of missed days of school. When children return to school, they are exposed to asthma triggers, such as respiratory illnesses, allergens, and poor indoor air quality in school buildings. These factors can increase asthma attacks, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations in September, especially for children.  Respiratory illnesses, such as the flu, COVID-19, RSV, and colds, also start to spread more during the fall. Respiratory illnesses can trigger asthma symptoms. Indoor and outdoor mold counts increase in some areas. Fallen leaves can increase outdoor mold, while indoor mold can grow as humidity levels inside increase, and air ventilation decreases. Mold can be both an allergen and airway irritant. Another factor leading to Asthma Peak Month is ragweed pollen. Due to climate change and warmer temperatures, allergy seasons are lasting longer. Weed...