What triggers seasonal allergic asthma?

Question

Hello doctor,

I'm 41 years old. I had atopic asthma as a child, which was treated with Zaditen tablets. This past week, I had a hard time breathing, especially at night, and experienced noticeable wheezing. There’s been a lot of pollen in the air recently, and the symptoms seemed to get worse when temperatures went above 86°F (30°C). On two nights, I actually woke up short of breath. I didn’t have any inhalers on hand, and it felt like I couldn’t fully fill my lungs with air.

Today, I’m feeling better. I ate a lot of raw honey with lime and olive oil, and the weather has cooled down a bit, so there seems to be less pollen. I can now take deep breaths without the tight feeling I had in the center of my chest. However, I still have a blocked nose and a lot of mucus. I’m not sure if that’s from allergies or possibly related to quitting smoking—I stopped smoking shisha last month after using it daily for four years. I didn’t smoke at all before I turned 37. Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thanks for reaching out—I understand your concern.

From what you’ve shared, it sounds like you’ve had asthma since childhood and are now dealing with allergic rhinitis (like a stuffy or runny nose from allergies). Things like pollen, dust, smoke, pet dander, and changes in the weather can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms. These flare-ups often happen during certain seasons and tend to get better when the triggers go away.

Zaditen (Ketotifen) can help with allergies, but it may not be enough on its own. You might feel better if you switch to a longer-acting antihistamine like Fexofenadine and add Montelukast, which helps reduce inflammation from allergies.

If those don’t help, a short course of steroid pills may be needed. Depending on how bad your symptoms are, you might also benefit from a nose spray (steroid nasal spray) or an asthma inhaler.

Here are a few tips to stay better:

Wear a mask outside when pollen levels are high.
Try to avoid things that trigger your symptoms.
Take your medicine regularly.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reach out with any more questions.

Thank you.