Immunology and Asthma: The Impact of Environmental Factors on Immune Responses

Across the U.S., there are approximately 28 million people with asthma. Almost 5 million of those people are teens and children aged 18 or younger. Allergists help their patients navigate the different factors, including environmental ones, on asthma and find effective treatments, like immunology in some cases.

The environment is a leading factor in asthma. We have microplastics in the air and water, air pollution from industrial businesses and wildfires, the foods we eat, and even homes that are so air-tight that VOCs build up and make it hard for people with sensitivities to breathe. The environment becomes a problem. 

The Most Common Environmental Factors

When asthma attacks hit, what are the most common environmental factors?

• Air Pollution

Air pollution is one of the most obvious environmental triggers. So many things cause air pollution in the world. A factory with an insufficient filter system in the exhaust towers releases particulate matter into the air. A car idling in a parking lot releases carbon monoxide and other forms of air pollution.

It’s hard to avoid air pollution. Pay attention to reports of the air quality in your neighborhood and wear a mask or stay inside until it improves.

• Allergens Inside and Around Your Home

Pollen outside of your home is hard to control. You can hire a landscaping company to remove problem plants, but you can’t remove all pollen from your life. If your allergies to pollen trigger asthma attacks, immunology is one of the best ways to stop your body’s response.

Inside your home, mold and mildew are likely asthma triggers. Any humidity, such as a bathroom with a fan that doesn’t draw out shower steam effectively, encourages mold and mildew growth.

Make sure your exhaust fans work properly and run a dehumidifier in rooms where humidity is a problem. If you have a home HVAC system, change the air filters regularly. An air purifier also helps reduce mold and mildew spores in your home.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) come from building materials, furniture, and cleaning products used within your home. If they trigger your asthma attacks, it’s going to take careful planning of the items you bring into your home for furnishings, home improvements, and cleaning products. It’s also vital that you work with an allergist, as VOCs are hard to avoid. 

• Climate Change

Climate change is happening, and it increases the risk of asthma attacks triggered by the environment. Heavy rain and melting snow in the mountains increase humidity, which increases the likelihood of mold and mildew growth. The water also helps weeds and other pollen-heavy plants thrive. 

Hotter, drier weather in some areas leads to massive wildfires. The smoke from wildfires travels for miles and lowers the air quality, which impacts those with asthma.

• Foods, Food Additives, and Water

Foods and food additives like sulfites are other asthma triggers. Peanuts, tree nuts, seafood, fish, eggs, sesame seeds, and milk are some of the foods that can trigger asthma attacks. Avoidance of your triggers is essential. 

One area that people don’t often think of is water. Water helps keep mucus flowing, which can help with asthma. Yet, the water you drink could also be triggering your asthma attacks. When water has irritants like chlorine or pesticides, it can lead to inflammation of the airways. Having your well water tested regularly is important, and filtering both well and city water is even better.

• Insects

Certain insects, cockroaches especially, impact some people. Cockroach fecal matter and saliva can trigger severe allergies and asthma symptoms in some people. Warmer weather and higher humidity levels help cockroaches thrive, which can increase the risk of infestations.

Eliminating cockroaches from your home is an important first step for ending cockroach allergies and asthma. Do this by removing their food and water source. Clean up floors and under your refrigerator and stove to remove crumbs. Cockroaches look for damp, dark spaces, so add under cabinet lighting in under-the-sink cabinets and make sure there are no leaks.

Navigating Asthma Triggered by Things Within the Environment

When environmental factors trigger your asthma, it’s hard to navigate. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible. You just need to identify and understand your triggers. This means working with an allergy doctor to figure out every trigger and finding the best tools for waging a battle against them.

When your triggers are found within your home, make sure you take every possible step to reduce the irritants. An air purifier with a HEPA filter and UV lights helps with dust, pet dander, mold spores, and other allergens. A vacuum with a HEPA filter also keeps your triggers to a minimum.

Wash sheets and towels a couple of times a week. Use a hotter water temperature to kill any bacteria. If your washer has an allergen setting, it can help. Watch what you’re using for a detergent as some detergents are high in VOCs, which can worsen asthma.

AirNow.gov tracks the air quality in your ZIP code. Check the daily air quality index (AQI) and avoid outdoor activities on days when the AQI is over 50. The AQI measures these airborne particles found in the air.

• Carbon monoxide – A colorless, odorless gas produced by vehicles, gas- or kerosene-powered appliances and heaters, portable generators, and wood-burning units like a fireplace or woodstove.
• Ground-level ozone – A type of pollution created when the sun reacts with nitrogen oxides, VOCs, and other forms of air pollution.
• Nitrogen dioxide – A type of air pollution caused by the combustion of fossil fuels or products like cigarettes.
• Particulate matter – Microscopic particles that form air pollution, such as the particles of soot and smoke from a wildfire.
• Sulfur dioxide – A colorless gas resulting from the combustion of items like a gas engine or a volcano.

It also entails making sure your body is as prepared as possible. A healthy gut microbiome aids the immune system. While avoiding any food triggers, aim for a diet that avoids processed or ultra-processed foods and eat enough fruits, vegetables, proteins, and fiber to keep your immune system functioning properly.

Dairy items like yogurt are high in cultures that aid in the gut flora. They should also be part of your daily diet. Ideally, you want plenty of antioxidants, probiotics and prebiotics, protein, and fiber in balanced meals and snacks throughout the day.

Avoid foods with added sugar, preservatives, chemicals, and unhealthy fats. They increase inflammation.

Your immune system is designed to keep you safe, but it’s not an infallible system. With rapidly changing environmental conditions, your best defense against climate change, pollution, and other asthma triggers is to work with Premium Allergy and Respiratory Center. 

Dr. Sabry specializes in immunotherapy for allergic asthma. When climate change increases the humidity and mold in and around your home or makes pollen season hit faster and harder than in the past, immunotherapy and other asthma treatments help you feel better. Book an appointment with Premium Allergy today.