The flu is a common but serious sickness that can lead to severe — and even deadly — health issues. Everyone should take basic precautions against the flu. But people with asthma are at greater risk of health problems from the virus.
People with asthma aren’t more likely to catch the flu. But flu prevention and treatment are critical in asthma patients because they can impact their health more.
What Is The Flu?
The flu, or influenza, is a virus that infects the lungs, throat, and nasal passages. It infects millions of people every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On average, hundreds of thousands of people end up in the hospital with the flu every year. Tens of thousands of them die from it. These numbers vary a lot from year to year based on the flu strains circulating and the flu vaccine’s effectiveness.
Older people and the very young are especially vulnerable to the flu. So are people with weakened immune systems and those with respiratory diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma.
Complications of flu include:
- Bacterial infection deep in the lungs (pneumonia).
- Bacterial infection in the blood (sepsis).
- Ear and sinus infections.
- Inflammation of the heart, brain, or muscle.
What Is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the airways. It can lead to trouble breathing, which can lead to an emergency. According to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America, about 25 million people in the U.S. have asthma.
An asthma attack is when you suddenly struggle to breathe as your airway narrows. Allergens, chemicals, air irritants, airway infections, and other factors can trigger an asthma attack.
Symptoms of an asthma attack include:
- Breathlessness or trouble catching your breath.
- Coughing.
- A tightness in your chest.
- Wheezing is when your breath makes a shrill, coarse whistling or rattling sound.
How Do I Know if I Have the Flu?
The flu affects everyone differently. Symptoms of the flu often mimic the common cold and some allergy conditions. Consult with your doctor to determine if you have the flu.
Symptoms of the flu include:
- Body and muscle aches.
- Cough.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Dizziness.
- Extreme tiredness.
- Headaches.
- High fever, typically with chills.
- A runny, stuffy nose.
- Sore throat.
How Does the Flu Affect Those with Asthma?
People with asthma fall into the high-risk category for flu. Asthma-inflamed lungs can get even worse when you get the flu. A respiratory infection increases swelling in already inflamed lung passages and increases mucus production, blocking the airways even more.
This can cause trouble breathing, asthma attacks, and pneumonia. Even if your asthma is mild or easy to control, you are still at a high risk of severe health problems from the flu. Common asthma medicines like corticosteroids can weaken the immune system, making it less able to fight the virus.
Even if your asthma symptoms are easy to suppress with medicine, your airways are more sensitive. The flu is likely to make inflammation in the airways much worse.
The flu virus can trigger severe asthma attacks that may require hospitalization. The heightened risk of an asthma attack from a respiratory infection may last several days to weeks.
People with asthma also are more likely to suffer from complications from the flu, including pneumonia. Doctors advise those with asthma to get their pneumococcal vaccine to help fight off pneumonia.
What to Do if You Have Asthma and Get the Flu
If you get the flu or are near someone with the flu, you may want to ask your doctor for antiviral medicine. If you start antivirals within two days of getting sick, they can help lessen flu symptoms. This could reduce the risk of complications.
Otherwise, do your best to get a lot of rest and drink a lot of fluids. Avoid alcohol and tobacco to speed healing. Ask your doctor what fever reducers, pain relievers, and cough and cold medicines you can take.
Carry your quick-relief medicines with you in case you get a flare-up. Keep an eye out for other worrying symptoms. If you are having trouble breathing, call 911 immediately.
How Can I Avoid Getting the Flu?
If you have asthma, avoiding getting the flu and any related health complications is essential. Here’s how you can minimize your risk.
- Get the flu vaccine. Because the flu virus changes each year, so does the vaccine. Make sure you stay up-to-date on your flu shot. The flu shot won’t worsen your asthma symptoms.
- Practice good hygiene. To help protect yourself from the virus, wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth before washing your hands.
- Stay away from people with the virus. Disinfect any objects and surfaces a sick person has touched.
What flu vaccine to get if you have asthma
Almost everyone should get a flu vaccine every year. This is especially important for people with asthma.
But there are many types of flu vaccines available. Which should you get?
People with asthma shouldn’t get the nasal spray flu vaccine. Opt for the traditional injected flu vaccine.
The nasal spray vaccine is a mist that goes into the nose. This spray can trigger wheezing. Researchers haven’t studied how well it works or any side effects in people with active wheezing or severe asthma.
When to Seek Emergency Help if You Have the Flu and Asthma
In addition to calling your doctor right away to get antiviral medicines, keep an eye out for emergency warning signs.
For children, emergency signs include:
- Dehydration, drinking enough fluids, peeing infrequently or very little.
- Extreme irritability and hard to comfort.
- Having a hard time breathing or breathing too quickly.
- Having a hard time waking the child.
- A rash with a fever.
- Skin that turns a blue color, especially around the lips and face.
- Symptoms that seem to improve, but then fever and cough return worse.
For adults, emergency signs include:
- Chest or abdomen pain.
- Sudden dizziness or confusion.
- Severe or persistent vomiting.
- Trouble breathing or breathing too quickly.
If you have any of these symptoms, call 911 or get to an emergency department immediately.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on , and was last reviewed on .