Ep. 125: Parents’ Guide to Asthma Peak Week
LISTEN TO EPISODE 125: Apple Podcast • Spotify • Amazon Music
This podcast was made in partnership with Allergy & Asthma Network.
We thank AstraZeneca and Amgen for sponsoring this episode. While they support the show, all opinions are our own, and sponsorship doesn’t influence our content or editorial decisions. Any mention of brands is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.
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.
What we cover in our episode about preparing for asthma peak week:
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.
About our asthma mom guest, Sherrina Gibson
Sherrina Gibson is a data analyst with the Allergy & Asthma Network and the mother of an 11-year-old with asthma, food allergies, and eczema. She shares her family’s experience navigating the atopic march and offers practical insights into preparing for seasonal asthma challenges. Her approach blends structured routines with positive, empowering messages to help her daughter live fully while managing asthma.
More resources about asthma peak week:
See what’s inside Carter’s medical bag
10 Ways to Stay Healthy During the September Asthma Peak Week
How to Make a House or Apartment Allergy & Asthma Friendly (Recording)
Allergy and Asthma Dorm Essentials
More episodes about asthma
Ep. 58: What is controlled Asthma? - Everything you need to know!
Ep. 117: As-Needed Albuterol–Budesonide in Mild Asthma (BATURA Trial)
Timestamps
Our episode discusses what you need to know about managing asthma in the fall.
01:16 Sherrina shares her family’s asthma journey
03:09 Warning signs: recognizing accessory muscle use in breathing
05:24 Understanding the atopic march and its link to asthma
06:45 Explaining Asthma Peak Week
07:07 How Sherrina prepares her family for fall asthma triggers
12:16 The importance of an asthma action plan
13:41 Adjusting asthma medications for different seasons
17:35 Day-to-day management of childhood asthma
21:41 Teaching children to recognize asthma signs and symptoms
28:32 Addressing the social side of asthma and helping kids feel safe without standing out
31:15 Sherrina’s top tip for families managing asthma
