COPD and Cold Weather: Top Tips to Stay Healthy

When the thermostat dips below 40 degrees, that causes drier air which can create problems for patients with COPD. Here are the top tips for staying healthy in colder weather.

Tips for Breathing Well This Winter

  1. Dress warmly, keep your head covered and your feet dry.
  2. If you must go out, use a scarf or face mask over your nose and mouth. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth under the scarf.
  3. If you use oxygen, keep the hose under your coat to keep the air as warm as possible.
  4. Do not exercise outdoors.
  5. If the weather is particularly cold, windy or snowy, avoid going out.
  6. Don’t burn wood in stoves or fireplaces because it causes smoke build-up. 
  7. As always, it is very important to take all your medications as prescribed by your doctor.
  8. And it is best to stay as healthy as possible by getting a flu shot, staying away from sick people and washing your hands often.

Taking these steps will help keep you breathing well and out of the hospital this winter.

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