Manatee Review

• Colder weather can cause more severe symptoms in asthma sufferers.

• Allergy triggers can also set off asthma attacks.

• Undergoing allergy treatment can help reduce asthma symptoms.

Dr. Mariah Pate of Tampa Bay Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers says people who suffer from allergies or other sinus problems frequently also have asthma. However, treating the underlying cause can typically help alleviate asthma symptoms.

"Asthma and sinusitis are very closely related, especially in those patients with nasal polyps," Tate told Manatee Review. "The sinuses and the lungs are a unified airway. So the inflammation that we see with asthma is very closely related to sinusitis. It is very important, if you have a patient with asthma, that they treat their sinuses effectively. I see it all the time, and it's been proven in studies that if you improve the sinus health, asthma gets better as well. This is for patients who don't have polyps and especially for those who do have polyps. This is a very important part of our field, focusing on these two conditions as one."

Asthma sufferers might notice more severe symptoms during winter months, thanks to dry air and abrupt changes in the weather, according to a pulmonary nurse practitioner with Temple Lung Center. Dry air can cause a decrease in the protective fluid in the airways of the lungs, which can make them inflamed and irritated, triggering asthma symptoms. Asthma symptoms can include coughing, shortness of breath, tightness and pain in the chest, and wheezing.

Additionally, common colds and the flu are more prevalent during the winter, and those respiratory illnesses can cause the airways to become swollen and irritated, which can set off asthma symptoms. A few simple strategies to combat asthma attacks brought on by cold weather are dressing warmly when you go outside, breathing through your nose as much as possible, using a humidifier, exercising indoors and staying hydrated. Frequently washing your hands can also help reduce your chances of catching a cold or the flu.

Many people with asthma also suffer from allergies, and allergy triggers can set off asthma symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic. The immune system's response to fighting off allergens involves releasing chemicals that can lead to a runny nose, congestion or skin reactions. Those responses can affect the airways, triggering asthma symptoms. Allergy treatments such as immunotherapy can reduce your body's reaction to allergens over time, which will in turn decrease asthma symptoms.

If you're interested in learning more about sinusitis and allergy symptoms, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.