How the Cold Weather Can Worsen Your Asthma
For hundreds of thousands of people living with asthma, winter is one of the worst seasons. Asthma patients not only have to cope with the cold and the illnesses that come with winter.
They have to spend more time indoors to prevent suffering from an attack triggered by the cold.
Spending more time inside has its risks too. The patient has to ensure an attack is not triggered by household elements such as pet fur or mould.
During winters, some families use wood and coal heaters to keep warm. These sources of heat are a danger since they emit gasses that can trigger attacks.
Although wintertime poses a lot of challenges for people living with asthma, various measures can help to prevent attacks. Patients should ensure that they get adequate asthma treatment whenever they experience any symptoms.
This helps to avoid further complications that may arise from the attack.
The following are five ways an asthma patient can better protect themselves during winter:
Keep pets away from the areas you frequent
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, as many as 30% of people who have asthma are allergic to cats or dogs. Pets such as dogs and cats continuously shed small amounts of hair.
During winter, pets, as well as people, spend more time indoors. The pets thus shed more fur in the house, increasing the probability of the patient coming into contact, which then triggers an attack.
To prevent attacks during the winter, pets need to have their own defined area. It is also crucial for the person living with asthma to avoid such areas.
Cover your sleeping space
Some asthma patients are specifically allergic to dust mites. Mites love to hide in bedding as well as the areas around beds.
If you are highly allergic, you must cover your beds as much as possible to prevent mites from inhabiting them.
If you suspect your bedding or pillow covers are infested, you should wash the beddings with hot water and put them in the drier to kill the mites. Covering the bed with dust mite proof covers helps to ensure they don’t come back.
Ensure your home is well heated and ventilated
Most people with asthma are highly allergic to moulds, which is encouraged by an abundance of moisture. If a room is not well heated and ventilated, moisture can accumulate inside, allowing the growth of mould.
When this grows, small bits of it can be found in the surrounding air.
If an asthma patient breathes this air, the mould can quickly induce an attack. To prevent this from happening, ensure that all leaking plumbing is repaired.
Proper heating and ventilation also ensure that any additional moisture in the air is eliminated.
Wash your hands regularly and avoid crowded areas
During the winter, many people suffer from flu and other bacterial infections. These infections can be transmitted easily from one person to the other through contact, even just shaking hands.
Although this is not directly related to asthma, it can contribute to the worsening of the patient’s condition. If a patient suffers from flu and gets an asthma attack, it may worsen the attack making it potentially fatal.
Regular washing of hands and avoiding crowded areas can help to minimise the risks of bacterial infections.
Wear adequate clothing when venturing outside
During winter, we experience cold weather conditions that can aggravate asthma symptoms. Proper attire prevents common cold-related illnesses as well as actual asthma attacks.
If you get sick or suffer an attack, it is crucial that you see a doctor for treatment. Follow through with the full asthma treatment program even after the symptoms have subsided.
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