Asthma is a common chronic disease that affects the respiratory system. Globally, the prevalence of diagnosed asthma is 4.3%. Environmental exposures, such as cold weather, may trigger symptoms or exacerbation of asthma. Continue reading to know more about asthma in winter, asthma symptoms in winter, asthma triggers in winter, and effective management tips that you must follow if you have asthma!
Why Cold Weather Triggers Asthma
Most populations living in colder climates and winter seasons are recurrently exposed to cold air during their occupational or leisure time activities or while commuting.
What research says: Several research studies have shown that the prevalence of respiratory symptoms experienced in cold temperatures is substantially higher among people with a respiratory disease compared to healthy individuals. This suggests that breathing cold air causes changes in the airways and causes symptoms that are further aggravated during exercise or outdoor work among people with asthma.
Also, exacerbations of asthma occur commonly in the cold season, leading to decreased outdoor activities and increased morbidity and mortality
How Cold Air Affects the Airways
The effects of cold exposure on the respiratory tract/ airways can be mediated either through
- skin cooling due to exposure of the face or body skin to cold air or
- inhaling cold air
Inhaling cold air can trigger unfavorable changes in the upper and lower airways. These changes may be caused by cooling of the skin, causing unfavorable reflexive changes in the airways, or by cooling and drying of the nasal and airway mucosa (lining of the respiratory tract), which could cause narrowing of the airways (bronchoconstriction).
Wheezing, shortness of breath, cough and phlegm production have been considered as typical symptoms of asthma in winter. They indicate airway obstruction and inflammatory processes that may take place during worsening of asthma due to environmental exposures, physical exercise, or insufficient medication.
On the other hand, during poor asthma control, individuals with asthma may become more sensitive to the adverse effects of airway stimuli, such as exposure to cold weather or tobacco smoke. Thus, a combination of poor asthma control and unusually strong adverse environmental exposure may lead to a vicious cycle with intense symptoms experienced in cold weather.
Read Also: Can Asthma Be Spread Through the Air? What You Need to Know
Common Asthma Symptoms Worsened by Cold Weather
Research studies indicate that cold weather commonly aggravates asthma in winter among adults with asthma. In addition, there is a trend between worsening of asthma control and increasing prevalence of cold-weather-related respiratory symptoms.
Asthma symptoms in winter are no different than asthma caused by other triggers. Asthma symptoms in winter include:
- Coughing, whether dry or with phlegm
- Wheezing, especially when breathing out
- Shortness of breath
- Tightness in your chest
Who Is at Higher Risk During Cold Weather?
Cold weather-related symptom occurrence is more frequent and severe among:
- Smokers
- Those with a BMI between 25 and 30
- Those with exercise-induced asthma
- Those with infections (colds, flu, RSV, COVID-19)
- Children with asthma
Winter-Related Asthma Triggers You Should Know
There are 4 main indoor triggers and body triggers that trigger asthma in winter that you need to be aware of:
- Indoor triggers – increased growth of mold: Condensation from insufficient heating creates the perfect conditions for mold, which releases spores that can trigger asthma attacks.
- Indoor triggers – indoor heating: Indoor heating can trigger asthma, especially if your house has dust and other particles. Moreover, many heating systems dry out the air, which can irritate your nasal passages and airways.
- Body triggers – Mouth breathing: Breathing through your mouth during cold weather allows the cold air to rush into your lungs, which can trigger an asthma attack.
- Body triggers – Weakened immune system: Cold temperatures can weaken the immune system, making respiratory infections more likely and aggravating asthma.
- Body triggers – Irritated airways: Breathing in cold, dry air can irritate the airways, causing coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Symptoms That Indicate Poor Asthma Control in Winter
Poor asthma control increases the risk of cold-weather-related respiratory symptoms both in men and women.
The effect of poor asthma control manifests as the occurrence of or worsening of the following asthma symptoms in winter:
- cold weather induced chest pain
- cough
- shortness of breath
- wheezing and phlegm production
Risks of Uncontrolled Asthma During Cold Weather
Uncontrolled asthma during cold weather can cause the following:
- It can easily trigger asthma flare-ups, especially when the air lacks humidity.
- It makes it more difficult to breathe and leads to additional asthma symptoms.
- It can trigger emergency medical situations with symptoms such as blue lips or fingertips (sign of oxygen shortage) and severe wheezing or chest tightness.
How to Prevent Asthma Attacks in Cold Weather
Improvement of asthma control with the help of appropriate asthma medication and application of self-management methods will reduce cold-weather-related respiratory symptoms among subjects with asthma.
Asthma Management Tips for Winter
Asthmatics whose asthma is poorly controlled are more prone to experience cold-weather-related respiratory symptoms. Even a slight worsening of the asthma control seems to increase the experience of respiratory cold-weather-related symptoms.
Therefore, it is important for asthmatic patients, who should be advised about proper protection against cold weather and who should receive adequate medication to reduce cold-weather-related symptoms and to prevent potentially more severe adverse health effects.
Management of asthma in winter:
- A proper asthma management plan by your doctor/pulmonologist will help you effectively manage your asthma during winter. It should include how to handle asthma when you have no symptoms, if symptoms begin, and if they become severe.
- Take your daily controller medicines as directed and always have a quick-relief inhaler available to use at the first sign of symptoms, especially when exposed to asthma triggers, such as cold air.
- If you have exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB), also called exercise-induced asthma, your doctor may recommend you use a short-acting albuterol inhaler 15-20 minutes before exercise. This pre-treats your airways so they are better prepared for physical activity and cold weather.
- Get the flu vaccine before winter starts
Lifestyle Tips to Reduce Winter Asthma Symptoms
Here are the top 6 lifestyle tips that you should absolutely follow to reduce the incidence of asthma in winter:
- Ventilate your home regularly: Open windows briefly during the day to let moisture escape. This is especially important after cooking or showering, to prevent the growth of mold and damp.
- Keep yourself warm at night: Layer blankets and jackets/sweaters to keep your body temperature warm overnight. Hot water bottles or heat packs can also provide extra warmth.
- Don’t leave home underdressed: Before going outdoors, wear a warm coat, scarf, hat, and gloves. It also helps to cover your mouth and nose with your scarf or a mask. Doing so helps warm the cold air as you inhale, which lowers your risk of irritating your airway.
- Proper breathing: Avoid mouth breathing; breathe through your nose instead. When you breathe in air through your nostrils, structures in your nose humidify and warm the air as it moves through the nasal cavity. Because the air is then warmer when it reaches your lungs, the risk of irritating your airway is lower.
- Eat healthy and stay hydrated: Eating nutritious foods such as fruits, vegetables and protein-rich foods provides the energy, minerals, and vitamins needed to boost the functioning of the immune system. Drinking extra fluids will help thin out the mucus lining in your airways.
- Stay healthy during the flu season: Maintain utmost hygiene practices such as good handwashing hygiene, avoiding crowds, and masking when necessary.
Conclusion
Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease. Cold weather in winters may trigger symptoms or exacerbation of asthma. Winter-Related symptoms of asthma include increased coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. Since there are risks of uncontrolled asthma in winter, prevention of asthma attacks and proper management are of utmost importance. Consult your doctor/pulmonologist for advice related to management of asthma in winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cold weather in winter triggers unfavorable changes in the upper and lower airways. These changes cause drying of the nasal and airway mucosa (lining of the respiratory tract) which could cause narrowing of the airways (bronchoconstriction). This facilitates worsening of asthma in winter.
Yes, cold air is bad for all asthma patients. Cold weather commonly aggravates asthma in winter among adults and children with asthma.
Yes, wearing a mask can help prevent asthma attacks in cold weather. Wearing a mask over your face will make the air you’re inhaling warmer and more humid, thus preventing dryness of the respiratory airways.
If you are asthmatic, it is important that you have regular reviews with your doctor/pulmonologist to make sure you are taking the right dose and the right medication for asthma in winter.
Yes, indoor heating can trigger asthma, especially if your house has dust and other particles. Moreover, many heating systems dry out the air, which can irritate your nasal passages and airways.
