The summertime can affect our lungs and make respiratory issues worse. The summer season can trigger respiratory symptoms and may cause discomfort for those individuals. We are going to share with you what the most common respiratory issues in the summer are!
Summer Respiratory Issues
The way that the summer weather can affect our lungs and breathing might not be as commonly known compared to the other seasons. Summer does have a significant impact on our breathing and can make it more difficult for individuals that already suffer from respiratory diseases. Below are six ways that heat can cause respiratory issues.
- In the summer, pollen counts and levels are increased, making it difficult to breathe. This can result in increased symptoms of allergies like coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath.
- Your body naturally requires an increase of oxygen to regulate its body temperature in the heat, which can affect lung function and result in hyperpnea (rapid breathing).
- Warm and humid air can cause certain allergies to be triggered. Warm weather can be just as triggering as carbon, mold, and pollution.
- Breathing in warm air can cause airways to be inflamed and to contract, which will result in shortness of breath. This is also called bronchoconstriction.
- Being dehydrated can result in shortness of breath by drying out the nasal passages and lungs.
- These respiratory issues can be increased if you suffer from respiratory illnesses like asthma and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease).
Managing Respiratory Issues in the Summer
Managing the summer respiratory issues that arise is possible and can be easy. Here are four ways that you can manage and reduce the effects of the summer heat on your respiratory system.
- Try to stay indoors as much as possible – although it may be difficult, especially in the summer, it is important to find activities to do inside if you are suffering severely from the weather.
- Check the weather – check the weather to find out pollen counts, air quality, and temperature. You may find it beneficial to spend time outdoors when the pollen counts are lower. This might help with any symptoms like coughing or wheezing.
- Be prepared – if you use a quick-relief medication for your respiratory disease, it is important to keep these medications nearby when spending time outside, as the outdoors can trigger many symptoms of these diseases.
- Stay hydrated and cool – it is important to keep drinking water throughout the day and stay cool to not get overheated when spending time outdoors. This will help reduce some of the symptoms you may be experiencing.
Summer is a great time to enjoy the outdoors, but it may have negative effects on your respiratory system. Knowing what those triggers are may be helpful and using these tips to help manage these respiratory problems might help reduce the symptoms. If you are experiencing severe symptoms from the temperatures outside, it is always a safe idea to contact your doctor for advice! If you are looking for a respiratory consultation, contact us today!