For people with respiratory diseases, including IPF, weather can cause worse symptoms, also known as flare-ups. This can happen if it’s too hot outside, or too cold, or if it’s too humid or not humid enough. Air pollution can also wreak havoc on your lungs. Any of these triggers can worsen breathlessness, cough, or fatigue.
Cold Air
“People often unconsciously breathe faster and more shallowly [when the air is cold], which can heighten the feeling of breathlessness,” says Dr. Rice. “Population data show that mortality from pulmonary fibrosis is highest in winter, even after excluding obvious infections, suggesting that cold, infections, and possibly indoor exposures all play a role.”
Heat and Humidity
In addition, she adds, high humidity also provides an ideal environment for mold and other allergens.
Air Pollution
“Air pollution can trigger respiratory symptoms and cause exacerbations of many chronic lung diseases, including IPF,” says Jamie Garfield, MD, a medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association and a professor of thoracic medicine and surgery at the Temple Lung Center at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. “Air pollution or particle pollution and poor air quality or ozone can irritate your lungs. Chronic exposure to both particle pollution and ozone can cause coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.”
She noted that in some patients with IPF, exposure to air pollution can increase oxygen requirements and reduce lung function. “It may also exacerbate otherwise stable disease,” says Dr. Garfield.
Great Job Roxanne Nelson, RN & the Team @ google-discover Source link for sharing this story.
