Believe it or not, many people love summer because they get the chance to play outdoors, and contribute to multiple activities. Bathing suits and pool parties are the best way to have fun with your loved ones. But if you have COPD, it can be difficult for you to enjoy it in summer as it is difficult to breathe. Here in this article, you will get 5 tips to Alleviate breathing difficulties.
Living with COPD does not mean that you can’t enjoy the summer season but you need to protect your body more. A healthy lifestyle in summer for healthy lungs can help you avoid illness. Climate change brings new challenges for people who are living with COPD as the weather changes every year. It is crucial to protect yourself from harsh temperatures and polluted air to control the symptoms. I remember how my lung specialist in Lahore helped me cope with COPD symptoms during the summer season. Hot days always remind me how we can manage to live a happy life if we follow some effective tips.
Summer is on its way and all you need is to learn how to be careful with easier breathing in summer. I rounded up some effective tips that will help you to get ready.
Prepare yourself for Summer with Easy Breathing Tips
5 Tips to Alleviate Breathing difficulties
1- Avoid Hot Times of the Day for Outdoor Activity
Studies reveal that people should avoid the sun because it may worsen the COPD symptoms, such as fatigue, breathing shortness, coughing, etc. It happens when your body is overheated, and your lungs need to struggle to cool down your body.
An only sunny hot day can challenge your breathing, especially for those people who are suffering from COPD. Hot air affects the lungs and causes irritation. It constricts airways and makes it hard for oxygen flow.
Experts also say that not only people with COPD should avoid hot air but all need to avoid sunlight exposure. Limit outdoor activity as extremely hot weather can worsen your COPD symptoms.
2- Understand About the Heat Stroke
Suffering from chronic diseases means you need to be extra careful in extreme weather. Heatstroke symptoms are often taken as COPD signs. You need to learn about the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, so you can differentiate and get help at the right time.
Heatstroke is dangerous and strikes you instantly. Whenever you are out in the heat, notice the symptoms and be careful. Some important signs of the heatstroke and exhaustion are the:
- Headache
- Fainting
- Weak
- Rapid pulse
- Fatigue
- Heaving sweating
- Nausea
- Clammy skin
3- Wear Light Colored Clothes
During hot days, you need to avoid tight and heavy dresses as they can make you overheat and will be very hot under the sun. Wearing loose clothes can help you to stay cool and breathe more easily. Light-colored clothes are also a decent option to avoid heat and to avoid breathing issues. When you think about going outside, don’t forget to wear the hat as it will protect your face from excessive heat.
4- Maintain your Indoor Environment
Summer months can bring about your excess mucus, cough, breathing shortness, and fatigue. The most common way to relax your lungs is to control your indoor temperature. High humidity in the air can leave you breathless, but you can control moisture inside your home by cleaning your home, reducing the pollutants, etc.
Make sure that you keep shut your home doors and windows when you notice the level of dust and pollutants in the air is high. You also need to clean up water leaks to reduce the growth of molds.
5- Avoid Smoking Indoor
Not only avoiding but quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health. Pollutant particles can stick to your walls when you exhale the smoke and also leave on the curtains and every other surface. You put your loved ones in danger this way. If you use an air freshener for indoor smell, minimize its usage because it can worsen your COPD symptoms.
Conclusion
If you are thinking that you can’t have fun in summer with COPD, you are wrong. You can enjoy your outdoor activities with some precautions.
