7 strategies to fight winter breathing problems
Even in healthy people, cold, dry air can irritate the airways and lungs. It causes the upper airways to constrict, or narrow, and it can also disrupt the moisture layer that lines the lower airways in the lungs. This effect may be more exaggerated in people with respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Ways to avoid cold air problems include covering the nose and mouth with a scarf when outside, keeping indoor air temperatures from falling below 64° F, and using a humidifier to keep the air from becoming too dry.
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