How to Treat Asthma Triggered by Cold Weather

Breathing cold air during winter can make asthma symptoms worse. Working with your doctor to develop an effective asthma action plan and following it is key to effective treatment.
If you have asthma, you may find that your symptoms are affected by the seasons. When the temperature dips, going outside can make breathing more of a chore. And exercising in the cold can bring on symptoms such as coughing and wheezing even faster.
Here’s a look at what causes cold-induced asthma and how to prevent attacks during the winter months.

What’s the connection between cold weather and asthma?
When you have asthma, your airways (bronchial tubes) swell up and become inflamed in response to certain triggers. Swollen airways are narrower and can’t take in as much air. That’s why people with asthma often have trouble catching their breath.
Winter is an especially hard time for people with asthma. A Chinese study from 2014 found that hospital admissions for asthma increased during the winter months. And in the cold climate of the north of Finland, up to 82 percent of people with asthma experienced shortness of breath when they exercised in cold weather.

When you work out, your body needs more oxygen, so your breathing speeds up. Often, you breathe through your mouth to take in more air. While your nose has blood vessels that warm and humidify the air before it reaches your lungs, air that travels directly through your mouth remains cold and dry.
Exercising outdoors in cold weather delivers cold air rapidly to your airways. It also appears to increase your likelihood of having an asthma attack.

Why does cold air affect asthma symptoms?
Cold air is hard on asthma symptoms for several reasons.
Cold air is dry
Your airways are lined with a thin layer of fluid. When you breathe in dry air, that fluid evaporates faster than it can be replaced. Dry airways become irritated and swollen, which worsens asthma symptoms.

Cold air also causes your airways to produce a substance called histamine, which is the same chemical your body makes during an allergy attack. Histamine triggers wheezing and other asthma symptoms.
Cold increases mucus
Your airways are also lined with a layer of protective mucus, which helps remove unhealthy particles. In cold weather, your body produces more mucus, but it’s thicker and stickier than normal. The extra mucus makes you more likely to catch a cold or other infection.

You’re more likely to get sick or be indoors when it’s cold
Colds, flu, and other respiratory infections tend to circulate during the winter months. These infections are also known to set off asthma symptoms.
Cold air can also drive you indoors, where dust, mold, and pet dander flourish. These allergens trigger asthma symptoms in some people.
What precautions should people with asthma take?
Make sure your asthma is under control before winter arrives. See your doctor to develop an asthma action plan, and then take the medicines your doctor prescribes. You may take medicine every day (for long-term control) or just when you need it (for quick relief).

How can you avoid asthma attacks in the cold?
To prevent asthma attacks, try to stay indoors when the temperature dips very low, especially if it’s below 10°F (-12.2°C).
If you do have to go outside, cover your nose and mouth with a scarf to warm the air before you breathe it in.
Here are a few other tips:
• Drink extra fluids in the winter. This can keep the mucus in your lungs thinner and therefore easier for your body to remove.
• Try to avoid anyone who appears to be sick.
• Get your flu vaccine early in the fall.
• Vacuum and dust your home often to remove indoor allergens.
• Wash your sheets and blankets every week in hot water to get rid of dust mites.