During a heart attack, the blood supply that normally supplies the heart with oxygen is cut off and the heart muscle begins to die. This usually occurs when one of the major arteries becomes blocked and reduces or restricts blood flow.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic obstructive airway (pulmonary) disease affecting the airways and causing airflow limitation. This effect is partially reversible or sometimes irreversible, unlike its other counterpart, asthma, which is usually a reversible obstructive airway's disease. In recent times, respiratory problems are constantly increasing due to sudden changes in weather and increasing pollution. Chronic obstructive airway diseases such as asthma and COPD are now more common in people of all ages, including children. Asthma affects all age groups including children, while COPD affects the elderly, both men and women. It is also common in smokers and non-smokers. How COPD affects your organs
COPD causes irritation and airflow obstruction that is usually partially reversible to irreversible blockage or obstruction in the airways of the lungs leading to difficulty breathing Chronic cough and many other effects on the heart, kidneys, GIT and skeletal muscles. COPD affects the Indian population massively, with more than 30 million people suffering from the disease. It is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases in India.
Smoking (both active and passive), indoor and outdoor air pollution, and occupational exposures are among the reasons why so many people are affected by this disease. Change in weather, exposure to toxic substances and irritants cause exacerbation of already inflamed COPD lungs. Other factors that do not cause COPD but make symptoms worse include frequent changes in weather, dryness in the atmosphere, exposure to toxic substances, and contact with irritants in the throat and lungs. The most common COPD disorders are emphysema, in which the air sacs in the lungs slowly deteriorate, disrupting airflow, and chronic bronchitis, in which the bronchial tubes become inflamed and narrow, causing obstruction and mucus buildup.
How Does Temperature Increase COPD Risk?
Individuals with COPD face increased mortality, higher hospitalizations, and poorer quality of life during periods of cold weather. Although conducting isolated research on the specific effect of cold temperatures due to seasonal influences has been difficult, it is clear that cold temperatures affect airway health in individuals with COPD. Some of the ways in which a drop in temperature affects COPD are:
Exposure to cold dry or hot dry air is known to trigger COPD flare-ups, causing shortness of breath and wheezing. Extreme temperatures below 0 degrees or above 90 degrees are especially dangerous.
Other factors such as wind and humidity increase the presence of lung and throat irritants.
Common cold and flu infections rise during winter season, which can be manageable for healthy people, but negatively affects people with COPD, even leading to long-term lung damage. COPD patients are more likely to catch such infections and take the longest to recover from them.
Strong winds and cold weather also cause severe coughing and wheezing compared to summer weather.
With the pre-existing factors of COPD and the arrival of new factors such as increased air pollution and the coming winter season, it is very difficult for COPD patients to manage the disease.
Some steps they can take to prevent symptoms from worsening include:
1. Influenza vaccination after consulting a doctor to boost immunity against common infections
2. Maintaining a high level of hygiene by washing hands frequently and covering the face with a mask in outdoor areas.
3. Wear warm clothes to keep your body temperature warm
4. Avoid strenuous activities, especially outdoors, that increase direct contact with polluted air and cold weather
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