As September approaches, many families notice asthma symptoms getting worse. Ragweed pollen, viral infections, cooler nights, and the stress of back-to-school routines all combine to create Asthma Peak Week, a time when asthma attacks and ER visits spike across the country.

Asthma mom, Sherrina Gibson, joins us to share how her family prepares her 11-year-old daughter for fall asthma challenges. She talks about cleaning routines, school planning, and teaching her daughter self-awareness and empowerment. Dr. Payel Gupta adds medical guidance on asthma action plans and seasonal medication adjustments.

You’ll learn how to spot asthma triggers, prepare your home and school, and teach children to recognize symptoms early so they can act before a flare gets worse.

• Parenting with asthma: Sherrina Gibson shares her family’s journey and how they prepare their home and routines each fall.

• Asthma management strategies: Cleaning, decluttering, updating medications, and coordinating with schools and coaches.

• Asthma Peak Week explained: Why symptoms spike in September and how to get ahead of it.

• Asthma action plans: Why every family needs one and how to keep copies at home, school, and on the go.

• Empowering kids with asthma: Teaching children to recognize symptoms, use their inhaler properly, and advocate for themselves at school and in sports.

More episodes about asthma

• Ep. 81: Why asthma attacks rise in September peak week
• Ep. 58: What is controlled Asthma? - Everything you need to know!
• Ep. 117: As-Needed Albuterol–Budesonide in Mild Asthma (BATURA Trial)
• Ep. 124: Asthma peak week and understanding triggers

Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to AstraZeneca and Amgen for sponsoring today’s episode.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

As summer winds down and September approaches, many people with asthma notice their symptoms getting worse. This is no coincidence as more asthma triggers appear during this time of year, from pollen and viruses to stress and weather changes. This combination peaks during Asthma Peak Week, a time when asthma attacks and ER visits spike across the country.

Allergist Dr. Kristin Sokol joins us to discuss seasonal asthma triggers, why fall can be especially risky, and how you can prepare to keep your asthma under control.

You’ll learn how to identify your personal triggers, steps to reduce your exposure, and why staying consistent with your medication routine is critical. We also cover tools like an asthma action plan, preparing for school, and making sure caregivers and teachers know how to respond to an asthma flare.

What we cover in our episode about managing asthma triggers during the fall:

• Understanding asthma: learn why even mild asthma should be reviewed before the fall.
• Identifying triggers: from indoor allergens to seasonal pollen and surprising emotional triggers, know what can set off your asthma.
• Preparing for Asthma Peak Week: discover how viruses, ragweed pollen, and stress combine into a dangerous flare period and how to get ahead of it.
• Staying in control: strategies to avoid or reduce asthma trigger exposure, prepare for school, and keep your asthma action plan up to date.
• Supporting everyone with asthma: special considerations for adults, caregivers, and teachers to stay healthy and ready year-round.

More episodes about asthma

• Ep. 81: Why asthma attacks rise in September peak week
• Ep. 58: What is controlled Asthma? - Everything you need to know!
• Ep. 117: As-Needed Albuterol–Budesonide in Mild Asthma (BATURA Trial)

Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to AstraZeneca and Amgen for sponsoring today’s episode.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

Parenting a child with food allergies can feel overwhelming and isolating. We're joined by licensed therapist and food allergy mom Tamara Hubbard, MA, LCPC, to talk about her new book, May Contain Anxiety, and the often overlooked mental health challenges that food allergy parents face.

We explore how chronic stress, fear, and anxiety can affect parenting, relationships, and family dynamics. Plus, why supporting the mental health of allergy parents is crucial for the entire family’s well-being.

Tamara breaks down evidence-based tools from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help parents manage food allergy anxiety, build confidence, and feel less alone on this lifelong journey.

• Tamara’s journey from substance abuse counselor to food allergy mental health advocate
• Why she wrote May Contain Anxiety and how it’s different from typical self-help books
• A breakdown of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and how it supports allergy parents
• The impact of food allergy anxiety on the whole family system, from parenting dynamics to sibling relationships
• Why this book is valuable for every stage of the allergy journey and helpful for allergists and extended family, too

May Contain Anxiety is available worldwide in English on September 30th, 2025.

Get 30% off by buying it at Hopkins Press and using the code: HMCA25