How to ease the sneezing and wheezing

How to ease the sneezing and wheezing

Get tested for asthma in the morning

Airways become more constricted and inflamed between 2am and 5am, so asthma attacks are most likely to strike then.

“If you pay a visit to your doctor first thing in the morning, you are likely to have a diagnostic test that’s most representative of your condition when it’s at its worst,” says Dr Michael Smolensky, a professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Texas. (Your doctor may also ask you to use a peak-flow meter at home so you can test yourself at your wheeziest.)

Women are most prone to severe asthma flare-ups on the days before their period, so that’s also a good time to monitor symptoms and keep medications handy.

Take allergy medicine in the evening

Hay fever symptoms, such as runny nose, scratchy throat and sneezing, are at their worst in the morning. What helps for most people: taking medication at bedtime, experts say.

Go for walks in the evening

Many people with allergies experience more sneezing and itching in the morning; trees release pollen at first light, and some pollens tend to fly most thickly before midday – so stick to night-time strolls.

Eat dinner at least three hours before bedtime

In gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, also known as GORD, stomach acid frequently makes its way into the oesophagus. This can cause or worsen asthma, experts say – even if you don’t experience symptoms of heartburn. Finishing dinner a few hours before bedtime can help.