People with asthma have a higher risk of complications if they get the flu. The flu virus can cause asthma flares and could lead to pneumonia. Getting the flu vaccine is the best way to prevent getting the flu for people with asthma.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that causes inflammation in your airways. It can make breathing difficult and often has several triggers.

The flu is a viral respiratory tract infection that can also affect your airways and may lead to other complications.

Although there’s no official connection between the flu and asthma, getting the flu can be more complicated for someone with asthma.

Yes, the flu can be more serious if you have asthma. You’re more likely to develop pneumonia, which is a serious flu complication.

Both asthma and the flu affect the respiratory system. Asthma can cause narrowing and inflammation in the airways, making breathing difficult. Viral respiratory tract infections, such as the flu, can worsen asthma symptoms and may trigger an asthma episode.

The best way to prevent complications from the flu if you have asthma is to make sure you get the flu vaccine. One study suggests that people with asthma who got the flu vaccine had fewer asthma attacks, had fewer healthcare visits, and needed fewer asthma medications.

No. The flu can’t cause asthma, and asthma can’t cause the flu. Asthma is a chronic condition without a definitive cause. The flu is a viral infection that may affect the airways and make asthma symptoms worse.

That said, having frequent viral infections as a child is a general risk factor for developing or worsening asthma.

When to go to the hospital

Some symptoms of the flu and asthma need emergency care. You should take a child to the hospital immediately if you see:

For adults, the symptoms are a bit different. Emergency asthma symptoms for adults include:

No. People with asthma are no more likely to get the flu than anyone else. However, if you have asthma and get the flu, you’re more likely to develop complications from the flu.

To reduce your risk of complications, it’s important to contact your doctor if you have asthma and develop any flu symptoms, such as:

There are different forms of asthma that have different triggers and symptoms. In general, most cough medications won’t help with asthma and could actually make your symptoms worse.

This is true for people with cough variant asthma, which only presents as a chronic cough. It’s also true for people with asthmatic bronchitis.

Because coughing is your body’s way of trying to clear something that’s irritating your lungs, taking a medication that acts as a cough suppressant won’t help.

However, medications that act as cough expectorants could help you bring up more mucus and reduce chest congestion. Guaifenesin, a common ingredient in many over-the-counter cough expectorants, is present in products such as Mucinex, Robitussin Cough, and Chest Congestion DM.

In most asthma situations, the best cough relief will come from taking your prescription medications, avoiding your asthma triggers, and trying at-home remedies for decongestion. Talk with your doctor to get the best recommendation for your symptoms.

Using your asthma inhaler or nebulizer may help reduce your flu symptoms.

Nebulizers turn liquid medications into a mist that you can inhale through a mask or mouthpiece into your airways and lungs. You can use different kinds of medications in nebulizers and help reduce the inflammation in your airways.

An asthma inhaler can also help open your airways and reduce flu symptoms. Inhalers are portable and can also offer a quick dose of medication.

You can try these medications to see if they relieve your symptoms, but if they don’t improve, talk with your doctor.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects your airways. Getting the flu can be dangerous for someone with asthma, as they’re more likely to have serious complications.

The flu virus can also cause difficulty breathing and respiratory issues, which can lead to pneumonia. The best ways to avoid getting the flu if you have asthma are to get a flu vaccine every year and to stay on top of your asthma management plan.