There is still a lot left to learn about thecoronavirusnot to mention about asthma and the coronavirus.
We dont have a ton of research looking at patients with asthma and this particular new coronavirus.
Having COVID-19 may trigger asthma symptoms and asthma attacks.
Adobe Stock / Visual Generation / Morgan Johnson
Common asthma triggers include things like allergens, exercise, and illnesses likecolds and the flu.
So it makes sense that the coronavirus might also be a trigger for asthma.
That alone makes the coronavirus an especially scary thought for those with asthma.
Does having asthma make you high risk for COVID-19 complications?
In astudypublished inAllergyrecently, researchers looked at 140 patients infected with the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China.
But what if you do become infected?
So far, the data is limited but suggests that asthma isnt a major risk factor for hospitalization.
A recentstudypublished inJAMA Internal Medicinelooked at 201 patients in Wuhan with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia.
Of those, 66 patients had other comorbid chronic illnesses, including five with chronic lung illnesses.
However, they continue, this association could evolve.
However, asthma can present in many, many different ways.
It can be mild, moderate, or severe.
It can be well controlled or uncontrolled.
Someone can have many triggers or only a few, very specific triggers.
So far, the biggest worry is for those who have severe or uncontrolled asthma, Dr. Meadows says.
These people can land in the E.R.
with a common cold.
We need to also pay attention to racial disparities in asthma.
Additionally, we know that there is a distinct racial disparity when it comes to asthma prevalence and complications.
The disparities seen in asthma outcomes and COVID-19 outcomes are very much in alignment, Dr. Neptune says.
Although we dont know the exact mechanisms underlying these differences, they likely stem from similar systemic issues.
Environmental injusticeis another factor, one that may also lead to racial disparities in COVID-19 outcomes.
Arecent study(currently in preprint) conducted by researchers at Harvard University T.H.
Heres what you’ve got the option to do if you have asthma.
for treatment, Dr. Meadows explains.
Some people do rely on the E.R.
for their asthma care and those in minority groups are more likely to do so,SELF recently explained.
So this could be a significant factor in addressing the racial disparities in COVID-19 outcomes.
So keep taking your usual medications.
But that doesnt mean you cant use a nebulizer if you really need it, Dr. Meadows says.
Ideally, you should go out on a patio or into your garage to use them, he says.
If asthma is well controlled, everything will be better for everyone personally and societally, he says.
