World COPD Day 2023: The global campaign of World COPD Day is observed on November 15 every year across the world to raise awareness about Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The theme for World COPD Day 2023 is ‘Breathing is Life - Act Earlier’ and focuses on the prevention and treatment methods for this lung disease.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, causing 3.23 million deaths in 2019. It is the seventh leading cause of poor health worldwide. While explaining the correlation between COPD and its prevalence in winter, Dr Hari Kishan Gonuguntla, Consultant Interventional Pulmonologist, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad explained that of the many triggers that cause airway inflammation, cold climate and weather will cause exacerbations of COPD with increase in hospital admissions in patients with COPD disease.
Watch the video below to understand the relation between COPD and air pollution:
Can COPD Worsen During Winters?
According to Dr Gonuguntla, cold air can be irritating and dry to the mouth and airway passages and can trigger or intensify symptoms for those suffering from COPD. The effects of cold weather on COPD do not permanently exacerbate the condition, but they can temporarily compound the condition by constricting airflow to a greater degree. Here are some tips to reduce the risk or prevent COPD during winter.
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Tips To Reduce Risk Of COPD In Winters
- Avoid direct exposure to cold breezes and maintain warm
- If you are not vaccinated for Influenza and Pneumococcal vaccination, it is high time to get these vaccinations done as there will be a rise in Streptococcal Pneumonia during this season.
- For those who are already taking medicines for COPD, make sure to have rescue inhalers in stock.
Causes and symptoms of COPD that you must know (Image Credits: Freepik)
- When the temperature dips, it's better to stay indoors and avoid going outside. Performing any type of strenuous activities (shovelling snow, jogging, skiing, etc.) can put your lungs at risk of exposure to dry air and cause you to experience a flare-up of symptoms.
- According to the American Lung Association, if you’re planning to travel this winter or if you’ll be staying outdoors for an extended period, remember to cover your nose and mouth with a scarf and breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. This technique helps warm the air before it reaches your airways. Your clinician may also recommend that you wear a mask outdoors, such as a CT Mask, that’s specifically designed for people living with COPD.
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- Avoid smoking and being around others who smoke. Smoking can increase irritability and narrow the airways. For that matter avoidance of any fumes, be it smoking, biomass gas or environmental air pollution is required. This further combined with cold air can severely worsen COPD.
- Breathe through your nose instead of your mouth when outside. Your lungs receive warm and humidified air with the help of moist surfaces in the nasal passage. Thus, it is important to breathe through your nose especially when you are a COPD patient.
- Consider buying a humidifier for your home. Humidifiers add moisture to the air to prevent dryness that can irritate many parts of the body. Thus, if you can invest in a good humidifier, it will help manage COPD symptoms.
(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.)
