Winter asthma triggers and prevention strategies
Winter can have a significant impact on our airways, and while it may cause sore throats and runny noses for most of us, people suffering from asthma may find it difficult to regulate symptoms and manage their illness. Asthma triggers and prevention strategies are listed below.
Although a welcome change, winter may be a difficult season to acclimatise due to the dramatic drop in temperature, cold winds, and dry air. Winter can have a significant influence on our airways. While it may cause sore throats and runny nostrils in most of us, people suffering from asthma may find it difficult to regulate symptoms and manage their condition.
From dry and irritated airways to exposure to cold and flu viruses common this time of year, prolonged exposure to cold air not only worsens pre-existing respiratory disorders but can also lead to novel cases of weather-induced asthma. Dr Arjun Khanna, Head of the Department and Senior Consultant at the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, explained to HT Lifestyle, “Asthma causes inflammation in the airways (bronchial tubes), narrowing them and leading to breathlessness, wheezing, and coughing-like symptoms in response to certain triggers, and cold air is a common trigger for most asthmatics.”
“Direct and continuous exposure to cold air causes their already-vulnerable bronchial airways to spasm and close,” he explained. As a result, their symptoms worsen and they are more susceptible to asthma episodes. In fact, exposure to cold air can trigger allergy-related asthma attacks due to histamine synthesis in the airways. As a first step, preventive steps such as getting a flu vaccine, minimising outside time, especially late at night and early in the morning, and wearing a mask and scarf to protect your nose and mouth should be taken.
This should be accompanied by a pre-planned action plan developed in cooperation with your doctor, an inhaler supplied by your doctor and regular inhalation therapy as prescribed by your doctor. A peak flow metre can also be used to monitor your lung health and better treat your disease. A peak flow metre measures how quickly you can push air out of your lungs as you exhale. It aids in understanding the power of your lungs as well as the openness of your airways.”
Asthmatic patients may have asthma exacerbation due to a variety of factors, according to Dr Piyush Goel, Consultant, Pulmonology at Manipal Hospitals in Gurugram. “First and foremost is the presence of seasonal viral infection, most typically flu, which can induce exacerbation of stable asthma,” he explained. Second, it can be triggered by excessive levels of pollution (both interior and outdoor pollution) and smog outside.
The first step in prevention is to administer annual influenza vaccinations before the onset of winter, especially in elderly individuals with comorbidities. In addition, children and adults with a history of lung disease and other comorbidities should wear masks and practise basic hand hygiene. Precaution is essential in these people because it prevents infections and pollution inside the lungs, which trigger asthma.”
