The impacts of a cold living environment can be very serious to those who are dealing with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). As this is a respiratory condition, its symptoms can be made worse due to the winter cold, making it harder to breathe and coughing to occur more frequently.
What is COPD?
COPD is the group name for lung conditions that create breathing difficulties, including:
- Damage to the air sacs in the lungs known as emphysema
- Long-term inflammation of the airways known as chronic bronchitis
The condition is more common in the middle-aged or adults who are prevalent smokers. Breathing problems can worsen over time and will begin to put a strain on your everyday activities, though treatment can help keep the symptoms at bay.
Symptoms include:
- When you are active you notice a shortness of breath.
- A chesty cough that is persistent and has a lot of phlegm. Many will mistake this for a smokers cough.
- Chest infections are more prevalent.
- Constant wheezing.
How does a Cold Home Affect COPD?
Cold temperatures can severely impact shortness of breath and coughs which are huge parts of the COPD condition, putting extra strain on the respiratory system:
Breathing Difficulties: Cold air can irritate airways which in turn causes increased inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes. COPD sufferers will face more flare ups, with some of them being severe. This makes it harder to breath.
Mucus Production: Cold temperatures can lead the body to produce more mucus in defence against the cold air, causing blockages in the airways. This extra mucus can make it harder to clear the lungs, making the risk of infection higher.
Oxygen Levels: Being exposed to the cold, the body will require more oxygen to maintain a stable temperature. This can cause cause a common issue that those with COPD face; hypoxia (low levels of oxygen present in the blood).
Weakened Immune System: Living in the cold can suppress the immune system causing infections like the flu, pneumonia, and common colds. These infections can worsen COPD symptoms which can potentially cause serious complications.
Physical Inactivity: In cold weather, those dealing with COPD will struggle to carry out any form of physical activity: an essential ingredient in maintaining lung quality and function. No activity can make it harder for the body to cope with the demands of COPD.
Heart Strain: Reduced oxygen levels in the blood already puts strain on the heart therefore cold weather causes blood vessels to constrict, causing problems like high blood pressure.
Tips for Managing COPD in a Cold Home
Adequate heating of around 18-21*C is going to be the main way of combating a cold home, but there are many other ways to keep yourself warm and your house comfortably dry during the winter season:
Layer up indoors: Breathable yet warm clothing is ideal to layer up with . This will help you maintain body heat without putting too much strain on the respiratory system.
Use a Humidifier: Cold air can be dry which irritates the airways, causing breathing to be harder. A humidifier will add moisture to the air in your home which will help to keep your airways feeling comfortable.
Space Heaters: Electrical space heaters can be ideal for heating the rooms you spend most of your time in, such as your living room or bedroom.
Seal Draughts: Minimise cold draughts s and prevent heat escaping by sealing around windows and placing draught stoppers in front of exterior doors.
Energy Support for Those with COPD
COPD comes with enough difficulties and having to worry about a cold home too can be extremely daunting. Taking the right steps to improve the warmth of your home and realising what worsens symptoms can help in reducing the impact of COPD, making this winter much easier to cope with.
Your home may not be energy efficient, and if you have COPD, you are able to access free home energy upgrades with government-backed grants. These are put in place to improve the energy efficiency of properties across the country, using various energy technologies such as air source heat pumps, solar panels, and insulation.
Having these upgrades in your home can shave hundreds of pounds off yearly energy bills. If you have COPD and a qualifying property, your income will not matter. Click the button below to find out if your property qualifies for these free upgrades.
Other Medical Conditions that Qualify For the Free Home Energy Improvement:
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