Dr. Krystal L. Cleven, Pulmonologist Bronx Voice  May 12, 2025 BRONX - May means warmer weather and beautiful blooming flowers. And with this beauty comes a lot more pollen circulating in the air. Pollen is a common trigger of asthma, a chronic condition that causes airway inflammation in the lungs. Dust, pet hair, air pollution, cockroaches, mice, smoke, and weather changes can also trigger asthma episodes. Shortness of breath, coughing, chest tightness, and wheezing are well-known asthma symptoms.  Asthma in the Bronx In New York City, approximately 14% of adults and children have asthma but the rates in the Bronx are higher at 21%. Emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to asthma are also about twice as high in the Bronx compared to the rest of New York City. Although outdoor air pollution may be a factor for people living near busy roads and highways, most areas of the Bronx have lower outdoor pollu...