No, you’re not coughing a lot for no reason. Hundreds of thousands of people have asthma in Massachusetts, and this time of year— specifically, this week— can be harsh on their lungs.
The third week of September is known as “peak week” by many asthma and allergy associations because emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to flare-ups rise significantly. Experts tell GBH this is because of the increase of ragweed, mold counts and a rise of respiratory infections as children return to school. According to CDC data over 10% of the population in Massachusetts currently has asthma, but even people who don’t have the condition can be impacted.
Experts say that asthmatics can be proactive about dealing with the high ragweed and mold counts, and increased particles in the air.
“We want to make sure that people understand that this is coming so people take their medications [and] work with their doctors to understand what their asthma triggers are,” said Kenneth Mendez, president of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
The foundation’s recent 2024 Asthma Capitals report ranks cities by estimated asthma prevalence, emergency department visits due to asthma and asthma-related fatalities. Springfield ranks fourth on the list of most challenging places to live with asthma, with Worcester ranked 23rd. Boston ranks 74th, but has a worst than average death rate for asthma. According to the report, Springfield also has the second highest asthma prevalence ranking in the nation.
There are steps people can take to prevent flare-ups, such as avoiding or reducing exposure to triggers, using medicines like inhalers to keep airways open, using maintenance inhalers regularly and getting a home nebulizer machine if needed.
Experts recommend people influenced by allergens take antihistamines even before feeling ill. Some other tips they suggest include having an air purifier within the home, keeping windows closed, and putting clothes from the outside world in the wash immediately upon getting home to wash any pollen or mold spores off.
The foundation notes the annual economic impact of asthma nationwide is in the billions — costing $3 billion as a result of missed days of work, $29 billion due to asthma-related mortality and $50 billion in medical costs. Nationally, the condition causes almost five million doctor visits annually and 1.5 million emergency department visits. Each day 10 people die from asthma-related causes.
Climate change plays an integral role in the growing air quality issues and resulting health repercussions for asthmatics.
“With climate change, our pollen seasons are changing and they’re also becoming more intense,” said Mary Johnson, research scientist for the department of environmental health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “So that combination kind of lends itself for this peak asthma week becoming even more significant in the lives of those with asthma.”
Johnson said that climate change also increases the amount of wildfires, which can spread particulate matter thousands of miles away. Increased flooding due to global warming causes more mold in homes, a “powerful trigger,” for asthma, she said.
Mendez agreed that climate change is spelling disaster for asthmatics. “We’re the new canary in the coal mine. What’s happening is the allergy seasons are getting longer and more intense,” he said.
Allergic asthma is caused by seasonal allergies. Climate change causes the growing season to begin sooner, and prolongs the fall allergy season because it isn’t cold enough for the first frost to kill pollinating weeds. Allergy seasons, Mendez said, are close to 20 days longer than they were 10 years ago.
The report also notes that communities of color are disproportionately impacted by peak week and asthma. Black children are three times more likely to die from asthma, and five times more likely to be treated in an emergency room. Black women have the highest mortality rate of any gender or ethnic group, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
A number of factors are cited, including poor air quality in low-income areas near highways and the high costs of asthma medications and care.
“The social determinants of health of where you live have a real impact on your health outcome, in particular with asthma,” noted Mendez.
