Severe cold doesn't necessarily affect asthma, but the "snow mold" that occurs around Alberta in the winter most certainly can. House molds can be a problem for asthmatics in Alberta.

I hate to say this, but if you have severe asthma I don't recomment you move to Toronto.... probably the best part of Canada for the asthmatic would be BC (British Columbia).... especially areas like Vancouver Isand..... just make sure you don't have any house mold.

[QUOTE=oceanMDX]Hot humid summers shouldn't aggravate asthma
Humidity and cold air can both be triggers for asthma. Cold air is an especially known and common trigger.

[QUOTE=pint princess] I suppose that nearly anything can trigger asthma including exercise... but after much research/info from doctors, and a lifetime living with asthma myself - as well as having lived all over Canada and North America... I have concluded that air temperature is not a key trigger in itself. Rather more important are triggers like dust mites (they like high humidity), and molds - such as snow molds that need the cold of winter to grow. So it's really other triggers that are associated with cold, warm, humid or dry air that cause trouble for asthmatics, and not the cold/warm/humid/dry air in and of itself.

[QUOTE=oceanMDX] Obviously hot air doesn't affect your asthma or you'd be six feet under by now.

You stated incorrect information (re cold air and humidity). Just admit it and move on.

[QUOTE=pint princess] Sorry that I had to contradict your misinformation...

I think you are wrong... it's not the temp. of the air you breath that is a key trigger for asthma... it's what's in the air that matters most - plain and simple... and I don't care what else you have read or been told to the contrary....

I dont have asthma, but on really cold days its enough to make me stop and catch my breath sometimes, so I would be amazed if cold on its own didnt trigger a reaction in some cases..Maybe its not strictly Asthma, but its something like it.

To misquote another member...just cos it did (not) happened to you in canada doesn't mean it will (not) happen to others.

[QUOTE=oceanMDX] http://www.asthma.org.uk/all_about_a...z/weather.html
http://www.asthma.ca./adults/about/s...rs.php#coldAir
http://www.asthma.ca./adults/lifesty...or.php#coldAir
http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies...e.php#triggers
http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/faqs.htm#triggers

etc...

[QUOTE=pint princess]

Yes, it is exactly that. The cold air 'blasts' the lungs and constricts the airways aka bronchospasm. For some people with asthma this can trigger an asthma attack. The cold air can be mould, dust, dander, etc free... it's the temperature that is the irritant. That is not to say that mould, dust, dander, etc are not irritants... they certainly are (that should keep oceanMDX quiet? I doubt it.) but cold air is a common and well known trigger for asthma attacks.

[QUOTE=pint princess] I'm aware of what umpteem sources on the web have to say on the issue... but I find it hilarious that they don't mention the fact that snow mold grows during cold weather and releases spores that are a very powerful trigger for asthma. You can continue to think it's the cold.... I will continue to believe that it primarily the stuff in the cold air (like mold spores) that are the main problem.

BTW did you know that laughing has also been implicated as major trigger for asthma too? I also take that with a grain of salt:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1697143.stm

[QUOTE=oceanMDX] Jeeeez

If your out for your morning excercise on a cold December morning during your period and someone tells you a funny joke, you're history!!!!

[QUOTE=oceanMDX] This is a pointless argument. There is no way to prove your claim that it's not the cold air as cold air has different properties (eg water content) to warm air. There is no way you can substantiate that it's not the temperature of the air itself just as no one can definitely say it is.

Why can't you just admit it and move on?

[QUOTE=printer]
Genius, pure genius

The Beeb should really change that pic.