While it provides relief from the beating sun, winter has its own set of cons. The frigid temperatures, dry yet biting winds can be rough and even a bigger issue if you have asthma. Cold-induced asthma is harder to control during winter and can trigger or worsen the situation.
Asthma is an inflammatory lung condition which makes breathing difficult and can come in the way of your day to day physical routine. People with asthma experience their symptoms getting worse during the cold weather as winter’s cold and dry climate trigger inflammation and mucus production causing your airways to swell, making it harder to breathe. Winter also leads to more sinus and other respiratory infections, either of which can worsen asthma symptoms.
Moreover, histamine is a compound that is produced by cold air. And this is the same chemical which is involved in immune responses like during an allergic attack/reaction. Asthma symptoms like wheezing are triggered by histamine. So, for many of the 25 million with asthma, winter is not their best friend.
To get a handle on your asthma during the cold winter months, it’s important to understand the triggers and working towards them. Along with using an inhaler, here are a few steps you can make to minimizing asthma flares.
1. Get a flu shot
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the best protection is to get your annual flu shot before winter actually sets in. Though catching the flu is not dependent if you have asthma or not, it can cause complications if you do get the flu.
Flu can be tough on people with asthma as it can cause your airways to inflame, even more, leading to more chances of asthma attacks and disease like pneumonia.
2. Avoid strenuous outdoor activities
The cold, dry air outside can trigger asthma. So, when the temperature drops consider moving your workout routine indoors.
3. Warm up before exercising
Now if you do decide to workout, don’t forget to warm up first. Research says “people with asthma recover faster and have better lung function when they are warmed up.”
Warm-up for 20 minutes before you hit your workout regime.
4. Wash your hands religiously
Practice washing your hands religiously and frequently! Washing your hands properly with soap is one of the simplest ways to deal with spreading and catching viruses that might worsen your asthma symptoms.
To cut back on your asthma triggers, wash your hands by rubbing them together with plenty of soap for at least 20 seconds.
5. Stay away from the fireplace
As much as sitting by the fire sounds the ideal thing to do during winter, burning wood is like burning tobacco. Not so great for asthma. “The cold air outside can trigger asthma but staying indoors with windows closed and around the smoke from the fire and other irritants also causes asthma to flare up.” Smoke is a powerful allergen to your lungs which can irritate and create problems.
6. Breathe through the nose
When out and about, be mindful to breathe through your nose and not the mouth since breathing through the nose can actually stop you from wheezing, feel chest tightness and shortness of breath. Breathing using the mouth can shock the airways that line the lungs.
Since it is better for your lungs, breathing through your nose can prevent any asthmatic episode for the air gets warm by the time it reaches your lungs.
Having asthma should not limit you from doing what you want, especially as the weather turns. Work with your doctor to create an action plan that works for you to help you in the wintertime. With certain tweaks here and there and following the above strategies can go a long way to get you through the season.
