Asthma and Cold Weather
There are two challenges for people with asthma in the winter. The first is that they have to spend more time inside. The second is it's cold outside. Well, when you are inside, you breathe in asthma triggers like mold, dust mites, pet dander, smoke and even fires in the fireplace. But when you go out, you can get asthma attacks caused by breathing cold air.
A study in England showed that cold weather can have a serious impact on the nearly 6 million people with asthma. 75% of people with asthma say that cold air triggers their asthma symptoms and nearly 90% have the cold flu that makes their asthma get worse.
Well controlled patients are more likely to be able to withstand the risk during the winter. Keep your asthma under control by making sure to have regular asthma reviews with your doctor or nurse.
Powerful Tips to Overcome Asthma in the Winter When You Are Indoors
Beware of indoor allergens
Many people prefer to stay indoors during the winter. But did you know that the house has more triggers ranging from dust, pet hair to dust mites? When you inhale something that triggers your asthma, air tubes in the lungs will be tight and clogged with mucus that can cause you to cough, wheeze, and struggling to breathe. Talk to your doctor to have tests to find out what your triggers. After knowing it, you can make some changes at home such as limiting your time with pets. If mites are the trigger, use mite-proof pillow and mattress. Keep your house cool and dry to stop the growth of dust mites and fungi. Additionally, remove all the decorations in the house. Christmas decorations such as Christmas trees can trigger asthma as well. However, getting rid of decorations that have been there for a long time can also expose asthma triggers such as dust and other allergens.
Keep your home smoke-free either cigarette smoke or smoke from fireplaces and candles. In essence, the various types of smoke, no matter where it comes from, can irritate your lungs.
Change the filter on the heating system
Be sure to change the filter on your heating system every year before the change of seasons. Heating the air can dry out and irritate your airways. It will be better if you ask your doctor about using a room humidifier to increase humidity. The ideal humidity for home is between 30 to 45 percent. If it's too high, it can cause the growth of fungi, mites, and dust.
Have someone to clean the dust
Dust is one of the causes of asthma. Now when you spend a lot of time indoors, have someone to vacuuming and cleaning the dust in your home to reduce allergens. Or if you have to do all the work yourself, use a damp cloth to dust and use a vacuum with a high-efficiency filter to clean the cloth-covered furniture, curtains, and carpets. In addition, be sure to wash all bedding in hot water above 130 degrees Fahrenheit once a week. Don't forget to wash your hands regularly
Only do light exercise
Vigorous exercise will only make your asthma uncontrolled. But that doesn't mean you can't exercise. Do light exercise and be sure to warm up and cool down your body. Also, wear a scarf or mask that covers your mouth and nose to warm the air as you breathe. To prevent drying in the airways, make sure to drink plenty of fluids before and after exercise
Do not swim
Although swimming is a good sport for people with asthma, but patients shouldn't swim in the cold weather even though it's an indoor pool. In fact, asthma can blaze in just five minutes after jumping into the pool.
Powerful Tips to Overcome Asthma in the Winter When You Are Outdoors
Always pocket your inhaler
Bring inhaler with you at all times. Take two or three puffs before stepping out to cold weather can help reduce the severity of attacks. So, don't forget to always bring it and don't forget to save a backup inhaler.
Always stay warm
When the weather became very cold, always wear a sweater and scarf wherever you go. Pull gaiter neck, turtleneck or scarf over the mouth and nose to warm the air that you will breathe.
Do not use your mouth to breathe
Cool outside air will surprise your lungs. Instead of breathing through your mouth, use your nose as they suggest in a yoga class. When you breathe through your nose, the air will be warmed up before it reaches your lungs. Conversely, if you breathe through your mouth, the air will be much cooler and thus become more likely to trigger an asthma attack
Keep calm
The cold weather can be stressful for most people since cold weather can wreak havoc for your plan. This requires you to do more preparation before leaving the house. Therefore, it's important to remain calm since an extreme emotional arousal can trigger asthma attacks. Try to have a yoga class or do meditation to relieve your stress.
Avoid outdoor sports
When the air becomes very cold, avoid any outdoor exercise, including shoveling snow. Cold air will make your bronchial airways cooling and drying which can trigger asthma attacks. Also, avoid sports-related winter such as ice skating, skiing, and snowboarding especially if your disease is not well controlled.
You can consider all the above tips throughout the year. However, they are very essential during the winter or when the weather is getting colder when you are more susceptible to asthma triggers.
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