Asthma Explained for Grand Rapids, Michigan

Asthma is a long-term (chronic) condition that affects the airways in your lungs. The muscles around the airways tighten, and the lining of the airways becomes swollen and inflamed, producing sticky mucus.

How Asthma Affects Breathing

These changes cause the airways to become narrow, making it difficult to move air in and out of the lungs. When asthma is not well controlled, this narrowing can lead to:

  • Wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing)
  • Coughing
  • Shortness of breath
  • A tight feeling in the chest

Symptoms are often worse:

  • At night
  • In the early morning
  • During or after exercise
  • During respiratory infections (like colds and flu)

Asthma cannot be cured, but with good management, people with asthma in Grand Rapids can lead normal, active lives, including outdoor activities in all four Michigan seasons.

Asthma in Grand Rapids, MI: Local Factors

Living in West Michigan brings some specific asthma triggers and patterns:

  • Cold winters: Breathing in very cold, dry air (especially during Grand Rapids winters) can irritate the airways and trigger asthma symptoms.
  • Seasonal pollen: In spring and summer, tree and grass pollens are common triggers. Ragweed pollen can be a problem in late summer and fall.
  • Lake-effect weather: Rapid weather changes around the Great Lakes can affect air quality and asthma symptoms.
  • Indoor allergens in winter: During long, cold months, Grand Rapids residents spend more time indoors, increasing exposure to dust mites, pet dander, and indoor mold.

The Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health provide local information on air quality, flu shots, and respiratory health programs that can help people with asthma stay well throughout the year.

Asthma Tends to Run in Families

Asthma often has a genetic component. It can run in families, but it affects everyone differently. Even two children from the same Grand Rapids household may have:

  • Different triggers (for example, one reacts to cats, the other to pollen)
  • Different symptom patterns (one may wheeze, the other may mostly cough)
  • Different severity (mild in one family member, more serious in another)

Typical Asthma Symptoms

Common asthma symptoms include:

  • Coughing (often dry and persistent)
  • Wheezing (whistling sound when breathing out)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Tightness or pressure in the chest
  • Waking often at night with coughing or breathing problems
  • Needing to use a reliever inhaler more often than usual

If you or your child in Grand Rapids experiences these symptoms, especially if they worsen with exercise, colds, or exposure to triggers, talk with your primary care provider or a local pulmonologist (lung specialist) at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health.

Common Asthma Triggers in West Michigan

Asthma symptoms can be set off by a range of triggers. These vary from person to person, but common triggers include:

Allergy Triggers

  • House dust mites
  • Pollens (trees in spring, grasses in late spring/summer, weeds like ragweed in late summer/fall)
  • Pets (cats, dogs, small furry animals)
  • Molds (indoor and outdoor, especially in damp basements and older homes common in Grand Rapids neighborhoods)

Environmental and Lifestyle Triggers

  • Cigarette smoke or vaping
  • Air pollution and poor air quality days (check Michigan air quality reports)
  • Wood smoke from fireplaces, fire pits, and wood stoves
  • Strong odors and chemicals (cleaning products, perfumes, paints)

Weather and Seasonal Triggers

  • Cold air or sudden changes in temperature (common in Michigan fall and winter)
  • Respiratory viral infections (colds, flu, RSV, COVID-19)
  • Exercise, especially in cold, dry air (for example, winter sports or running outside in January)

Medication Triggers

Some medications can trigger asthma in certain people, including:

  • Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in sensitive individuals
  • Certain heart or blood pressure medications (like some beta-blockers)

Always discuss new medications with your doctor if you have asthma.

Thunderstorm Asthma

“Thunderstorm asthma” happens when a certain type of thunderstorm combines with high grass pollen levels, breaking pollen into tiny particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs. This can cause many people to develop asthma symptoms over a short period of time.

  • These events are uncommon and don’t occur every year.
  • They are more often reported in certain regions, but similar conditions can occasionally occur in parts of the United States, including the Midwest.

People at higher risk include those with:

  • Current or past asthma
  • Allergic rhinitis or hay fever
  • Poorly controlled asthma

Having good control of your asthma and hay fever can help reduce your risk.

If you’ve ever had asthma or severe seasonal allergies in Grand Rapids, talk to your primary care provider or allergist about:

  • Whether thunderstorm asthma is a concern for you
  • How to adjust your asthma action plan during high-pollen, stormy weather

How Asthma Is Diagnosed

There is no single test that diagnoses asthma on its own. Doctors in Grand Rapids typically use:

Medical History and Exam

Your provider will ask about:

  • Your symptoms (what, when, how often, and what triggers them)
  • Family history of asthma or allergies
  • Exposure to smoke, pets, workplace irritants, and seasonal patterns
  • Past hospital or emergency department visits for breathing problems

Spirometry (Lung Function Test)

Spirometry is a common test used at local clinics and hospitals (such as Spectrum Health or Metro Health):

  • You blow into a tube connected to a spirometer as forcefully as you can for a few seconds.
  • The machine measures:
    • How much air you can blow out (lung capacity)
    • How fast you can blow it out (airflow)
  • Most adults and children over 6 years of age can do this test correctly.

Your doctor may also:

  • Try asthma medications and repeat testing
  • Order allergy testing if allergies are suspected triggers

Asthma Medications

Asthma can usually be well controlled with the right medications. In Grand Rapids, these are prescribed by your primary care provider, pediatrician, allergist, or pulmonologist.

1. Relievers (Rescue Inhalers)

  • Work quickly to relax the muscles around the airways
  • Used during an asthma attack or when symptoms appear
  • Provide short-term relief only

2. Preventers (Controller Medications)

  • Taken every day, even when you feel well
  • Reduce inflammation and swelling inside the airways
  • Make the airways less sensitive to triggers
  • Help prevent symptoms and attacks

3. Combination Inhalers

  • Contain two or more medicines (usually a preventer plus a long-acting reliever)
  • Used for people whose asthma is not controlled with a preventer alone

4. Add-On Medications for Severe Asthma

For people with severe asthma who are not well controlled on standard treatments, specialists at large centers (such as Spectrum Health or Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital) may recommend:

  • Monoclonal antibodies (biologic therapies) given by injection or infusion
  • Other add-on treatments tailored to your specific type of asthma

Your doctor will explain which medication is right for you and how to use your inhaler correctly, often with a spacer device.

Managing Asthma Day-to-Day in Grand Rapids

Good asthma management is essential, especially with Michigan’s changing seasons and winter respiratory viruses.

To manage your asthma well:

  • See your doctor regularly
    Schedule check-ups with your GP or asthma specialist to review your symptoms, lung function, and medications.

  • Know your triggers
    Work with your provider to identify what sets off your symptoms (pollen, pets, cold air, smoke, etc.) and plan how to avoid or reduce them.

  • Use your medications as prescribed
    Take preventer medications daily, even when you feel fine. Do not stop or change doses without medical advice.

  • Use your inhaler correctly
    Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to check your inhaler technique. A spacer is often recommended, especially for children.

  • Have a written Asthma Action Plan
    This is a personal plan from your doctor that:

    • Lists your usual medications
    • Helps you recognize when your asthma is getting worse
    • Tells you exactly what to do if symptoms flare up For children, give copies to the school, daycare, sports coaches, and anyone who regularly cares for your child.

Asthma Attacks (Flare-Ups)

An asthma attack can come on:

  • Gradually (for example, starting with a cold or flu)
  • Quite quickly (for example, after inhaling pollen, smoke, or a strong irritant)

Warning Signs of Worsening Asthma

Watch for:

  • Increased wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing
  • Needing to use a reliever again within 3 hours of last taking it
  • Waking often at night with asthma symptoms

An asthma attack can become life-threatening if not treated properly, even in someone whose asthma is usually mild or well controlled.

Asthma Emergencies: When to Call 911 in Grand Rapids

Always call 911 and ask for an ambulance if someone:

  • Finds it very difficult to breathe
  • Is unable to speak in full sentences (or can only say one or two words per breath)
  • Has lips or face that are turning blue
  • Is getting little or no relief from their reliever inhaler
  • Has symptoms that get worse very quickly

While waiting for the ambulance:

  • Follow the person’s asthma action plan, if they have one.
  • If there is no plan or you are unsure:
    • Give 4 puffs of reliever medication, one puff at a time, with 4 breaths after each puff.
    • Repeat 4 puffs every 4 minutes until help arrives or symptoms improve.

Emergency departments at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and other local hospitals are equipped to manage severe asthma attacks.

Asthma in the United States and Michigan

  • Asthma is one of the most common reasons for hospital admission in children.
  • In primary school–age children, asthma is more common in boys than girls.
  • After the teenage years, asthma is more common in women than in men.
  • Asthma is more common among some minority and Indigenous populations.
  • Many people with asthma also have other allergic conditions, like eczema or hay fever.
  • People with asthma often report poorer general health and quality of life if their condition is not well controlled.

In Michigan, cold winters, indoor heating, and seasonal pollen can all contribute to asthma symptoms, making consistent management especially important for Grand Rapids residents.

Local Asthma Resources in Grand Rapids, MI

If you or your child has asthma, local support and care are available:

  • Emergency (24/7):
    Call 911 for life-threatening asthma symptoms.

  • Hospitals & Emergency Departments:

    • Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital (downtown Grand Rapids)
    • Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital (pediatric asthma care)
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health

  • Primary Care & Clinics:

    • Family medicine and pediatric practices across Grand Rapids
    • Asthma and allergy specialists (allergists, pulmonologists)

  • Kent County Health Department / Grand Rapids Public Health:

    • Information on air quality, flu and COVID vaccines, and respiratory health programs
    • Community education on chronic disease management

  • Local Pharmacies:

    • Medication refills
    • Inhaler technique checks
    • Over-the-counter allergy relief options

National organizations such as the American Lung Association and Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) also provide:

  • Asthma education and videos
  • Asthma action plan templates
  • Information on medications and inhaler devices

Key Points About Asthma in Grand Rapids

  • Asthma causes the airways to narrow due to muscle tightening, swelling, and mucus, making it hard to breathe.
  • Typical asthma symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
  • Symptoms are often worse at night, early morning, during exercise, or with colds and flu.
  • Asthma symptoms and triggers vary from person to person; even family members can be affected differently.
  • With proper diagnosis, medications, and an asthma action plan, most people with asthma in Grand Rapids can live full, active lives in every season.

If you suspect you or your child has asthma, schedule an appointment with your Grand Rapids healthcare provider to discuss testing, treatment, and creating a personalized asthma management plan.