How to handle asthma during the winter months

Winter asthma

As winter approaches, and the days get colder and darker, you may find your asthma symptoms get worse - meaning you might be dealing with irritated airways on top of all the usual seasonal bugs and wintertime blues.

Although not everyone with asthma has the same triggers, a seasonal pattern to your asthma is very common. Hospital admissions for asthma increase during the winter months, while Asthma + Lung UK found that December and January are the deadliest months for people with asthma.

Even if your symptoms aren't severe, you may find the seasonal change affects your quality of life.

Why does asthma get worse in the winter?

Dr Jeff Foster, Medical Director, H3 Health says: "Asthma is an inflammatory condition made worse by triggers that make your airways oversensitive. Walking from a hot room to the cold air outside can make asthma worse. It triggers your smaller airways to tighten as they try not to let that cold air deep into the lungs. However, the asthmatic lung can tighten too much, which can trigger an attack."

Cold air can also prompt the airways to produce histamine - the same hormone released during allergic reactions. This can trigger a bout of wheezing. In addition, the body is likely to ramp up its production of mucus, in an attempt to create a warm environment and filter the air entering the lungs.

Colds, flu, and chest infections are also more common during the colder months. Symptoms include a stuffy nose, cough, inflamed airways, and a general increase in mucus production, all of which can make asthma symptoms worse.

Will staying indoors help?

Staying in all the time may not help either. Just being in a centrally heated house can be bad for asthma, as the heating dries out the natural moisture in the air, making it harder to breathe.

On the other hand, damp and mouldy environments produce spores, which can also trigger asthma symptoms.

Foster says: "People also tend to light fires, candles and other devices in winter - these are direct lung irritants and can be much worse for someone who has asthma."

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Regarding coughs and colds, you may not be able to avoid every bug that's going round this winter. But you can take precautions, such as washing your hands regularly and wearing a mask in crowded settings. Some people with asthma are also eligible for the winter flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster - check here.

Foster says: "If you have asthma your chance of severe asthma attacks and pneumonia increases if you get flu or COVID. However, you can reduce this chance through a simple vaccine." Under certain circumstances if you have severe asthma requiring multiple doses of steroids, you may be eligible for a pneumonia vaccine as well.

Create an asthma action plan

Whatever the time of year, if you've noticed your asthma getting worse, you should have an asthma review. Make a note of what's going on around you when symptoms occur and book a doctor's appointment to discuss your personal triggers. Your doctor can help you manage your asthma action plan, to keep your asthma under control as best as possible and lower your chances of having an asthma attack.

You can also speak to your pharmacist about many aspects of managing your asthma, from repeat prescriptions to helping with your inhaler technique.

Foster adds that asthma management has moved more towards prevention than relief. Your prevention inhaler - if you've been prescribed one - is your secret weapon during the winter months. This makes your airways less sensitive and lowers the likelihood of an asthma attack. You should also take your reliever inhaler with you wherever you go.

The winter months may not be your favourite time of year if you have asthma. However, with the right asthma action plan in place, you have every chance of keeping symptoms at bay as the temperature plummets.