There’s beautiful weather, and then there’s melt your ice cream, instant sunburn kind of weather. Changes in temperature like heat waves are known to trigger asthma symptoms in some people.

Knowing how to manage your asthma in these conditions will help you avoid asthma symptoms and enjoy even the hottest summer days. Here are some tips to get you through even the worst summer scorchers.

1. Plan Ahead

Don’t let the heat catch you off guard. There are many ways you can get ahead of the hot weather, such as by checking the Pollen Count and your local Air Quality Health Index before venturing out and starting your day. If there is poor air quality or a high pollen count, it may be best to stick to indoor activities.

2. Be Prepared

When temperatures soar and you find yourself experiencing asthma symptoms, you want to have your reliever medication on hand. No matter the weather, keep your asthma reliever with you. You never know when asthma symptoms may strike, especially in extreme heat.

3. Be Smart

If you know you’re going to be outside when it’s stifling out it’s best to be smart about it. Keep your asthma medications out of direct sunlight and out of places known to get too hot, such as the glove compartment of your car. Your medication should stay close by and cool.

Know your limits when it comes to exercising outside and don’t over exert yourself. Take plenty of breaks and take your reliever medication if you need it. You can find more information about exercising with asthma here.

4. Stay Cool

Staying cool is crucial to controlling your asthma in warm weather. Try ducking inside in between activities and just sitting in the air conditioning to cool off. You can also consider going for a refreshing swim. Whichever way you do it, make sure you combat the heat and stay cool.

5. Stay Inside

On hot and humid days, it’s sometimes best to stay inside and avoid the heat altogether. This is especially true if the pollen count is high and you have allergies

6. Have an Action Plan

There are many benefits to having an Asthma Action Plan. One of them is being able to identify when your asthma is flaring up and knowing what to do when that happens. Throughout the summer – and all year long – having an asthma action plan can be invaluable and help you manage your asthma safely.

7. Be Early

If you have outdoor activities planned it’s best to schedule them early in the morning to avoid the hottest parts of the day. It is also best to exercise earlier in the day when the air quality is better and the temperature is still tolerable.

8. Stay Hydrated

This tip may seem fairly obvious, but we can’t stress enough how important it is to drink lots of water and stay hydrated when you’re outside in hot weather.

9. Have A Chat

If you know your asthma is worse in the summer season or triggered by hot and humid weather, talk to your doctor about your asthma treatment and make sure it is right for you.

Heat and humidity also worsen allergies. Many allergy triggers like pollen, dust and mould are more prevalent and can trigger your asthma symptoms. It may be worth chatting with your doctor about having allergy testing done.

Whether you’re facing a sweltering heat wave that’s cracking thermometers or just a bright and sunny day by the pool, these tips will help you manage your asthma symptoms and breathe easy all summer long!