July brings heat and humidity. For many, this can mean an overly hot day of gardening or an extra sunny barbeque. For those with asthma, a hot and humid July day means asthma symptoms.

There are several asthma triggers, and the weather can be at the top of the list for many. Hot and humid air is known to cause asthma symptoms. Not only do they help allergens and dust mites thrive, but heat and humidity also help particles such as pollen and air pollution levels rise. These particles are known asthma triggers, as they irritate airways. In addition to this, the warm summer thunderstorms that we are accustomed to here in Indiana help break up pollen grains that are then swept up by the wind, thus triggering asthma symptoms.

As those with asthma prepare for summer activities, it is helpful to keep a plethora of resources in mind for weather tracking. These may include Accuweather for a personalized asthma forecast, AirNow for your areas Air Quality Index (AQI), or even Pollen.com for local pollen indexes.

For more information on weather triggers and symptoms or resources on how to be best prepared this July visit the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America website.