Winter asthma triggers and preventative measures

Although a welcome change, winter can be a tough season to adjust to as with the sudden drop in temperature accompanied by cold winds and dry air, winter can have an intense impact on our airways. Winter asthma triggers and preventative measures From dry and irritated airways to exposure to cold and flu viruses that are characteristic of this time of year – continuous exposure to cold air not only worsens pre-existing respiratory conditions but also can lead to newer cases of weather-induced asthma. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Arjun Khanna, Head of the Department and Senior Consultant at Department of Pulmonary Medicine, explained, “Asthma causes inflammation in the airways, making them narrower and leading to breathlessness, wheezing, and coughing-like symptoms in response to certain triggers and to most asthmatics, cold air is a common trigger.” He elaborated, “Direct and continuous exposure to cold air causes their already-vulnerable bronchial passages to spasm and close. In fact, cold air exposure, can even cause allergy related asthma attacks on account of the production of histamines in airways. Therefore, as a first step, preventive measures should be followed like – getting a flu vaccine, limiting outside time especially when temperatures drop significantly e.g., late night and early morning, using a mask and scarf to cover your nose and mouth.