Asthma and colds both involve airwayinflammation.
When you have both, it can makeasthma symptomsharder to control.
An otherwise mild respiratory infection can turn into a serious medical event.
Verywell / Laura Porter
Over time, this can make the airways thicken and lose flexibility.
That appears to raise your risk of respiratory infections.
Scientists arent entirely sure why.
Some studies suggest its due to damage to cells called epithelial cells, which line your airways.
Geneticsmay also play a part.
Inhaled steroids are sometimes used to manage asthma.
Many cytokines trigger airway hyper-responsiveness andbronchoconstriction(throat tightening) in people with asthma.
Cytokines drawwhite blood cellsto the site of the infection.
Among them are eosinophils, which are tied to allergic asthma and can increase inflammation.
So, now you have multiple sources of airway inflammationa cold, asthma, and allergies.
This may explain why certain people are more prone to viral-induced asthma than others.
Asthma affects every part of the lower respiratory tract from the larynx to the lungs.
At that point, both the upper and lower respiratory tract become affected.
If a cold develops rapidly, the cascade of symptoms may occur all at once.
This typically happens when theres a secondary infection of the lungs, such as bacterial pneumonia.
Cold and Asthma in Toddlers
Colds, even recurrent colds, do not cause asthma.
Diagnosis
The overlap of symptoms in people with viral-induced asthma can make diagnosis difficult.
Healthcare providers easily recognize classic cold symptoms.
Diagnostic Work-Up
A diagnosis of viral-induced asthma typically requires some detective work.
Apart from wheezing, other breath sounds may add to evidence for the cause of your condition.
Wheezing is considered one of the defining features of asthma.
Any accompanying sounds may suggest which pop in of virus is involved.
Given how common viral-induced asthma is, some findings warrant treatment even if the specific virus isnt identified.
Treatment Without Diagnosis?
You may be treated for asthma-like symptoms during a viral illness even if youre not formally diagnosed with asthma.
They symptoms may be labeled reactive airway instead.
How Do You Treat a Cold With Asthma?
Asthma medications will never fully prevent or relieve asthma symptoms induced by a cold or other respiratory illness.
That’s because they produce different kinds of cytokines, and asthma drugs only treat some of them.
Breathing difficulties may persist as the inflammation in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts feed on each other.
Symptoms will continue until the viral infection is resolved.
This is especially true when eosinophils are produced in excess.
Still, the standard treatment of a cold or flu should be accompanied by the appropriate use ofasthma medications.
This may include the increased use of ashort-acting beta-agonist(also known as a rescue inhaler).
Symptoms may be managed with decongestants, cough formula, antihistamine, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Nasal washing may help clear mucus build-up.
Cold viruses are easily passed by sneezing and cough or by touching surfaces contaminated with germs.
You should also steer clear ofsecondhand smokeand other asthma triggers until the cold is fully resolved.
Finding the right combination of asthmacontroller medicationscan significantly reduce your risk of an attack.
You may even have asthma only when you have a respiratory infection.
Allergies and allergic asthma can exacerbate the problem, as well.
Having a cold and asthma together can make both of them harder to manage.
Medications for both problems can help.
Prevention is important, so be sure to take your asthma medications as prescribed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nocturnal asthma (worse asthma at night) is common.
Both asthma and cold symptoms may be worse in the evening.
Food, smoke, dust, and other triggers can lead to nocturnal symptoms.
Be sure to keep your environment as irritant-free as possible.
You may also want to take cold medicine intended for nighttime use.
Your healthcare provider can help you monitor asthma closely and prescribe pregnancy-safe medications.
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