Every Respiratory Consultant Will Tell You
When it comes to the colder seasons of the year, asthma sufferers experience more triggers than they would in warmer seasons. The reason for this is that the dry Fall and Winter air will evaporate the protective fluid in your airways and cause irritation.
On top of that, the cold weather has your body producing thicker and stickier mucus which clogs airways while it captures more contaminants that trigger your asthma.
These temperature elements create respiratory conditions making it harder for asthma sufferers to breathe easily.
Cold-Weather Asthma Triggers
Cold weather seasons have private respiratory medicine specialists seeing more asthma sufferers than the warmer seasons. Even though there is no difference between Summer and Winter asthma, there are differences in the triggers that cause an asthma attack.
While these triggers may appear during the Spring and Summer months, they are not at as high levels as they are during the Fall and Winter seasons. Here are some of those triggers:
1. Dry Air– The colder seasons have less moisture in the air causing your airways to dry out more. The protective fluid coating your airways evaporates faster and takes longer to replenish.
Once the protective fluid is gone, airways are irritated and can swell up causing a shortness of oxygen intake.
2. Increase In Mucus Production– The winter months have an effective on the body’s mucus production. Mucus is a protective layer that helps remove irritants and other contaminating articles that are harmful to asthma sufferers.
However, in the colder and drier months of the year, the lower temperatures cause the body to produce thicker and stickier mucus. These mucus properties congest the airways leading asthma sufferers to more respiratory conditions that affect their breathing.
This process is normal for everyone, even those who do not have asthma conditions.
3. Exercising Outside– When one exercises they generally breathe through their mouths to get the oxygen their body needs. However, the mouth does not have the humidity and heat treatment one’s nose has.
This means the airways dry out as the air is not treated to help the protective fluid layer. The protective fluid evaporates causing irritation and breathing problems.
4. Remaining Inside– The colder seasons have people remaining inside more often than the warmer seasons. That means that the asthma sufferer is exposed more to the allergens that create an asthma attack.
How To Manage Asthma In Cold Weather
There are several steps that you can take to avoid triggering your asthma when cold weather arrives.
1. Adjust Your Winter Asthma Plan – Use your inhaler more frequently to keep your airways open.
2. Create An Asthma Action Plan– Then double-check your plan with your respiratory consultant to make sure the plan is viable and effective.
3. Use Filters And Air Purifiers– The HEPA filter or air purifiers will remove possible allergens before they get to your airways and make indoor life a bit healthier and easier for you.
4. Avoid All Types Of Smoke– Smoke no matter if it is tobacco or from a wood fire will irritate airways and trigger an asthma attack.
5. Exercise In Warmer Locations– Exercising inside is better for you if the room’s humidity and temperature levels are higher than the outside.
6. Use Your Nose– Breathing through your nose is better for asthma sufferers as it warms the air and adds moisture to it. This process protects your airways from drying out.
7. Protect Your Airways– When you go outside in cold weather wrap a scarf around your face or wear a proper face mask. These adjustments will help warm the air making it healthier for your airways and their protective fluid.
8. Take Your Medication– Do not skip the prescribed drugs and do not take more medication without consulting with your lung consultant in London.
9. Heat Your Home– Avoid making your asthma worse by raising the ambient room temperature to comfortable levels. Also, keep your room well-ventilated to protect against mould growth. Mould spores are an asthma trigger.
10. Use A Humidifier– Keeping the right level of moisture in the room’s air is essential to keeping your airways from drying out.
11. Monitor The Weather– Avoid doing outdoor activities when there will be a sharp drop in the outside temperature and humidity levels.
12. Record Your Symptoms– If you notice that your asthma symptoms are increasing in frequency then consult your private respiratory medicine specialists for more information on how to manage your asthma during the cold and flu seasons.
Severe Winter Asthma Symptoms
It is important to watch what symptoms you experience during the Winter. London’s respiratory consultants have compiled a list of severe symptoms that inform you that you need to see a respiratory consultant immediately:
- Persistent earlier morning or late night coughing
- Increased heartbeat rate
- Rapid breathing
- Talking and walking become difficult
- Bluish colour around fingernails and lips
- Chest muscle retraction
Enjoy The Cold Weather
The arrival of the cold seasons does not mean that asthma sufferers have to remain indoors throughout those colder months. With the right management plan from their lung consultant in London, asthma sufferers can still take part in a variety of outdoor winter activities. The key is to understand what will trigger your asthma and what you can do to prevent those attacks. For more information on managing your asthma during the winter, talk to us today. We are one of London’s respiratory consultants that care about you.