Summertime is an interesting time of the year. Not only is there more sunshine but the length of daytime is increased. One increase that is difficult for many of my lung disease patients to tolerate is the heat and humidity. Recently, the temperatures have been quite high in our area along with oppressive humidity.
Those readers who have any significant degree of lung disease and, especially, if you have COPD or asthma do not need me to tell you that the combination of heat and humidity creates increase shortness of breath with any physical activity. In fact, this type of weather can even cause increased symptoms at rest.
When confronted with these increased symptoms, patients often turn to their rescue inhalers for relief. Most of the time in these circumstances not much relief is found. Humid air is actually thicker than dry air and if your lung disease is associated with narrow airways it feels more difficult to breathe.
The treatment for heat and humidity is air conditioning. Excessive use of your rescue inhaler can have serious consequences for patients with hypertension and heart disease. Some of my patients say they just have fans and moving the air can have some cooling
effect but, if at all possible, consider just a room air conditioner for the bedroom so there is at least one room in the house where you can escape the heat and humidity and improve your sleeping comfort. Enjoy the summer and look forward to some cooler, dryer weather.
