Winters and Breathing Issues
Many people experience breathing and respiratory issues with
the onset of the winter with Cold and Nadal blockage off and on.
In winter season, the air in the atmosphere is cold and dry.
Chilly winds flow making you breathe in quite cold air. And, this increases
your respiratory discomfort largely. You may experience Cold, a dry throat with
irritation, wheezing, and laboured berthing. Respiratory discomfort increases
even more for asthma and COPD patients.
Why exactly winter
aggravates breathing difficulties, which respiratory conditions can become
dominant in the cold months, and what to do to ease it
The dry, cold air in the winter makes your airways narrower
and irritates your lungs. So, you experience breathing difficulties in these
cold months.
The layer of moisture lining the lower airways in our lungs
gets disrupted due to the cold air. And, it happens to evaporate more speedily
than normal before it gets replaced.
Additionally, the protective layer of the throat – mucous
becomes thicker and stickier than normal in the winter. It happens to block the
airways and increases your risk of catching a cold and infections, thereby
making you vulnerable to breathing difficulties.
Other factors responsible for breathing issues in the winter
include dust particles, smog, pollution, smoke, and seasonal allergies.
What Are the Common Respiratory Conditions That One May Suffer in the winter?
Some of the most common respiratory health issues that can
trigger or aggravate breathing difficulties are as follows:
Asthma:
The cold air in the winter season can trigger asthma attacks
easily. Recurrent episodes of asthma in this season can make you suffer from
breathing issues. Also, the common cold, flu, and infectious conditions are
prevalent in the winter. These infections can also aggravate asthma discomforts
in asthmatic individuals. One may also need an inhaler if breathing difficulties
aggravate.
Pneumonia:
Even though pneumonia results due to infectious bacterial or
viral microbes, the cold weather of the winter has a role to play. The chilly
winds can worsen the existing respiratory infection of pneumonia. You may
experience aggravation in discomforts, such as cough, chest pain, and fever,
and may lead to shortness of breath or shallow, rapid breathing.
Bronchitis:
In the winter, the inflammation, irritation, and swelling of
the respiratory passage, which allows the air to enter the lungs, may occur;
thereby making you suffer from bronchitis. Although acute and chronic
bronchitis symptoms are similar to that of the common cold, they are a lot more
intense. Persistent cough, the most common symptom of bronchitis, can
deteriorate your quality of life. When down with bronchitis in the winter, you
may experience chest congestion, wheezing, coughing up mucous, and shortness of
breath.
Influenza:
Although this viral infection presents symptoms similar to
that of the common cold, it’s more severe than it. Influenza is commonly known
as flu. Its incidences increase in the winter making the affected person suffer
from body aches, chest pain, fatigue, and congestion. It can also lead to rapid
breathing and shortness of breath, which calls for immediate medical attention.
Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
COPD patients are more vulnerable to infections and diseases
in the winter. Low temperature and chilly winds in the cold months affect their
lungs negatively. Dramatic changes in their respiratory health may occur due to
the narrowing of the airways in the lungs and recurrent episodes. As a result,
COPD sufferers may experience increased mucous production, coughing, and
breathing difficulties, which can even be life-threatening.
Whooping
Cough:
Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, is a highly
contagious respiratory infection that can affect you in the winter. Most often,
it is observed to affect young children. The affected child or person may
experience uncontrollable violent coughing, which may make one suffer from
breathing difficulties.
Sinusitis:
This is an upper respiratory tract infection which can
affect your health and cause aggravation in respiratory symptoms in the winter.
People spending time in closed spaces and poorly ventilated environments are
more vulnerable to it. Headache, congestion, and cough are common symptoms.
Chronic sinusitis can trigger breathing difficulties in the winter.
Respiratory
Syncytial Virus (RSV):
This respiratory condition is mostly observed in kids and
infants. RSV can lead to chronic bronchitis and pneumonia in the cold months.
Also, RSV sufferers may experience severe chest pain and breathing difficulties
in peak winters.
How to Care for Your Lungs and Protect themin the winter?
Poor air quality and dry, chilly weather are bound to
increase your chances of respiratory flare-ups. However, you can always care
for your lungs, keep them healthy, and avoid breathing difficulties by making
some lifestyle modifications and dietary changes. Here’s a quick rundown of it.
Prefer
Warm Clothing:
Dress yourself up in warm outfits before you step out in the
cold weather. Layering your body with warm clothes, such as sweaters, help you
maintain body temperature. Use a scarf to cover your mouth and nose, as it
helps prevent cold air from entering the lungs.
Maintain Cleanliness and Good Hygiene:
Dust, pet dander, pollen, and moulds happen to circulate in
the atmosphere more in the winter. Keeping your surroundings clean can help
keep these allergens away and prevent the risk of respiratory flare-ups. Also,
wash your hands well before touching your mouth and nose. This helps avoid the
risk of respiratory infections.
Don’t Go for Strenuous Outdoor Activities: Jogging and
running are some of the outdoor activities that may cause a lot of exertion and
make you gasp for air in the winter, thereby trigging breathing issues. So,
switch to breathing exercises Pranayama and moderate exercises at home this
season. Make sure you include breathing exercises in your routine to improve
your lung capacity.
Eat
Nutritious Diet Warm Foods:
TAKE LUKE WARM WATER, SOUP AND TULSI ADRAK TEA, AVOID COLD
DRINKS AND ICE-CREAM
Consume a diet rich
in vitamin C and antioxidants. Include oranges, lemon, guava, and Indian
gooseberry in your regular diet to keep respiratory ailments at bay. Adding
multivitamins to your diet can help strengthen your immune system to fight
infections and keep your lungs healthy in the winter. Also, enrich your diet
with carrots and red bell pepper, particularly if you have asthma, as these
foods soothe asthma discomforts and improve your lung health naturally.
Stay Hydrated: Although you may feel less thirsty in the
winter, make it a habit to drink plenty of water daily for the good health of
your lungs. Also, prefer hot beverages, such as soups, tea, and coffee, to
maintain a healthy body temperature.
Have Your Medications on Time: People having respiratory
conditions should take their medicines on time as per the doctor’s
prescription. Avoid skipping your medications. Asthma patients should keep
their inhalers handy in the cold season.
By following all these preventive measures and care tips,
you can avoid respiratory conditions in the winter. So, make sure that you
inculcate all these healthy practices in your routine in the cold season to
enjoy good respiratory health and avoid breathing difficulties. Despite this,
if you happen to suffer from coughing, chest congestion and breathing Problems,
Get in Touch with
Dr. Ashwani Kansal Consultant
Physician and Diabetologist
Call +91 8826220044 for Appointment
