Stupid question ❓

[Wibble28]

Hello everyone I hope you're all doing well.

Does anyone else notice a difference with their lung problem based on changes in weather or temperature?

Thanks for your feedback

[Alberta56]

Very cold or very hot weather knocks me out. I don't like rain much either.

[Wibble28 in reply to Alberta56]

I noticed that when the weather is good I have no real problems, but if it starts raining/ overcast/stormy or the temperature drops suddenly overnight my coughing increases which in turn really makes me tired.I'm wondering if I should move to a warmer climate.

[Alberta56 in reply to Wibble28]

A warmer climate might be the answer, if you can sure it will not be subject to heatwaves or wild fires.

[Ern007 in reply to Alberta56]

Warmer sums it up Chris - Hot can be bad - Corfu on chairs on beach, very humid and kicked of my COPD, it eased when cooler.

[Alberta56 in reply to Ern007]

Oh dear. All the holiday ads show people roasting on lovely beaches. But not us. 🙁🙁🙁

[peege in reply to Alberta56]

Just the little bits in between 🤣🤣

[Difficul]

Yes. I find high pressure is better for me and moderate temperatures. Rain seems to make my breathing worse but I like a gentle breeze.

[Spacecat1]

Yes I do the humidity today I'm struggling today and cold weather causes a problem.

[TheLegend]

Yes, I have COPD, Atmospheric conditions have a marked effect on how well or poorly I function. Bright, dry, sunny day's are good, I can normally function reasonable well, unless it is very very hot, then many rest breaks are needed but dull, cloudy, damp, cold weather makes it much more difficult to function, breathing becomes very difficult, I become very breathless and struggle to do the simplest of tasks, ie wash up dishes, make a cup of tea, bending down to take shoes off is difficult, climbing the stair to bathroom is like scaling the North face of the Eiger. I have to use my inhalers more often during damp/cold weather and even then they don't help much.

[SimonJJJ in reply to TheLegend]

I could have written this myself

[purdeyspringer in reply to TheLegend]

That is exactly like me, my Emphysema is not good at the moment either. I have portable oxygen and that doesn't really help either. Using inhalers more, only have 40%lung function doesn't help.Take care.

[Fircone]

weather definitely determines how good or poor my breathing will be. I’ve recently acquired a barometer and very quickly I noticed that anything above 1000 millibars and my breathing is a little improved but once it goes below then I’m really struggling to do even the lightest of housework. Cold and rain and I’m good for nothing. Lovely warm sunshine is best for me.

[B0xermad in reply to Fircone]

My philosophy is don't do the housework on struggling days it will still be there tomorrow as its added pressure on you when your body needs a rest .

[Stephen2058]

Absolutely, yes. If it's really damp or cold or even too warm, I find my breathing becomes really laboured and my chest gets tight. I've even mentioned it to GP and they agreed it is weather and temperature changes that cause symptoms. All I do is stay home when that happens.

[Shirazmataz]

yes wet weather is a trigger for my asthma so all this wet cold weather we have had for months has been a real pain. I can tell if it is raining outside before i have opened the curtains due to the way my lungs are each morning. So when is our British summer coming!

[Shirazmataz]

by the way - i forgot to mention drinking cold/iced drinks too immediately clamps up my lungs. Does this happen to anyone else?

[B0xermad in reply to Shirazmataz]

No ice or drinks from the fridge just room temp or hot ones

[B0xermad]

Hi wibble28 I definitely do if it's too hot, too windy ,too damp and my lungs have difficulty with walking around being breathless makes me sluggish.

[Blackbird8]

Do some research reading on barometric pressures .... I have copd stage 4 I'm a self employed 68 year old dog walker ...

If its very muggy weather and the clouds are low the barometric pressure is low so my breathing becomes somewhat difficult it's due to lack of oxygen in the air ... but I manage it with Ventolin as and when ...its all down to atmospheric pressure and the weather as to how we react everyone's different some like it hot some like it cold ..

🩷🧡💛💚💙

[chocklate]

Same with me can't cope with wet cold weather.

[LissacFrance]

Wet or damp weather bad for my wife. This has been a long wet winter. She tries to walk about 2 km every day, but no point in that when it is so wet. The problems created far outweigh any benefits from the exercise. We also try and have half an hour every day playing table tennis outdoors, but under an awning. She finds the arm movement loosens the muck in her lungs effectively. If other options are off the list then 10 minutes on the exercise bike indoors. Have a good day, remember we are now in "flaming June".

[Alberta56]

For years I've thought it was me being wimpish when I did not feel like doing anything on cold wet days. I told myself to pull myself together, but didn't. Thanks Wibble and everybody. Now I can relax and be a couch potato. 😄😄😄🌞🌞🌞

[gingermusic]

Yes most definitely the weather really affects me. Cannot cope with being either to hot or to cold and do not cope well with rain and wind so spend most of my time indoors these days

[Collie4]

Definitely. I can’t cope with extremes. My copd starts playing up if it’s too cold, and same if it’s too hot. It’s difficult. Humidity plays a part too.

[Ergendl]

Yes, for the reasons others have given in the posts above.

[madonbrew]

💯! My asthma is very triggered by changes in temperature!

[Dolphin628]

Yes in changes when it's cold outside I was only walking to the shop was more breathless yesterday doing that.Dolphin628.

[Karenanne61]

Yes! That's why I'm so looking forward to my fortnight in the sun!☀️(Majorca 🏖)

[Mopsey1897 in reply to Karenanne61]

Me too! We’ve got 10 days there soon, hoping my breathing will be ok in the heat

[HighFiveSummer]

I also find that pollution is a big problem for me. Working in a factory where steam and heat is present causes me shortness of breath too.

[Shalz]

yes indeed! I find humid conditions affect my breathing. When temperatures rise above the 20s does affect my breathing too.

I keep the humidity at home as low as possible, finding that 50% is quite comfortable. My windows are open ajar everyday except evenings.

Finding your comfort zones for your lungs, goes a long way in easing your breathing!

👍 Sheila

[Timberman]

Yes. I am very susceptible to weather variations. Any humidity above about 74% makes breathing harder. It figure since hydrated O2 is likely to be harder tio transfer than dry O2. And this also applies close to the sea - especially on rough days when the O3 content slso rises.

Temperature is no help either. Below about 18C and above about 28C is no help.

And then there is wind. A light breeze is a help but anything stronger and I need to seek shelter.

So the science is probably simple. The atmosphere contains on average about 20% oxygen. But pressure and temperature will affect that. It will only be marginal bit for people like us who may only able able to make use of as little as one third of that even a single point reduction makes a disproportionate difference. I am on augmented O2 all the time but it is set at 2-3 litres per minute. A fit person takes in treble that every minute; even I take in double. But I process it badly so increasing the available amount makes a big difference - and it is NOT weather sensitive.

So my advice is to keep an eye on the weather; check the humidity and the barometric pressure - the high the better. Check the pollen count too; most of us are sensitive to hay fever and if you have had any cancer treatment you will probably have rhinitis.

[leo60 in reply to Timberman]

As if we don't have enough to worry about! Sums up my breathing patterns, take care xx

[Nicholatracy]

humidity does me in 🐞

[CreamCrackers]

I noticed recently that after a brisk walk into work from the car park in chilly temperatures then entering into a heated office space brought on wheeze and coughing, so it was the sudden contrast that did it for me on that occasion.

[Smilesalot]

Yes I do Wibble28. For both Copd and Fibromyalgia.It's a beautiful day here and my lungs have been calmer than the last few days.

I hope you're ok,

Hugs Dawn

[Wibble28 in reply to Smilesalot]

Unfortunately, where I am the weather is really mixed at the moment so my coughing is worse than normal, although my breathing has not been as bad as usual.Luckily I'm doing well overall.

Take care

[watergazer]

Me too! The weather affects me- I always feel better in warmer temperatures, even going on holiday to different places in the U.K. affects me. I went to Somerset recently and spent some time at the seaside and countryside I’ve come home and am coughing again. I live between Wigan and Manchester x

[Mopsey1897]

I read that the dew point is a good indicator for anyone with,lung problems. The ideal point is between 50 and 55 apparently and I check it every day. Last few days I’ve been ok but I didn’t go outside and the dew point was good. Today it’s 48 in Croydon and I’ve had a bit of breathlessness.

[Wibble28 in reply to Mopsey1897]

Can you tell me where do you find the information for the dew point please?Many thanks

[Mopsey1897 in reply to Wibble28]

I get it from my weather app, The Weather Channel

[Wibble28 in reply to Mopsey1897]

Thanks

[leo60 in reply to Wibble28]

It's also on the BBC weather app, and which ever one it is (!) on my iPhone xx

[mauschen]

Atmospheric pressure and quick changes in temperature affect me.

I get a heavy feeling in my head before a thunderstorm which makes me extremely tired, as does hot weather.

If I come out of the cold into the heat, I will start to cough. Also if I eat ice cream, I will cough.

Recently, I had a post viral cough and wheeze lasting 6 weeks or more. The weather was miserable, cold and wet in the U.K so I decided to continue with my holiday touring continental Europe. It was warm and dry and I felt better every day, helped along by steroids and additional inhalers. However, my cough did not go away until yesterday, even then it’s easily triggered to start.

I do believe there are temperature related changes in our Asthma symptoms but believe more research is needed.

[2Sn00py]

We made a permanent move to the Algarve 8 years ago as I found that my COPD was so much better in the warmer drier pollution free climate in Portugal and have no regrets. It is mainly very windy days that make breathing difficult.

[pepparuby1]

well… all the replies has made me realise the weather will dictate how my breathing is. Two weeks ago I had covid booster and I was thinking that that had led me to feel more breathless recently but it could be the rain and damp weather. Yet today 22 degrees o was breathless walking around a few shops ! Terrible illness but I know I’ve got to keep moving

[Butmish]

All the time,humid weather seems to be worse.

[T1gerTim in reply to Butmish]

Ditto re humid weather

[leo60]

Yes definitely! Warm (not hot!), dry (not humid), with a (very) gentle breeze is perfect! Where in the world can I find my Utopia please? xx

[Nula2]

Hi, yes I can't deal with the heat, I shut all the curtains and have even less puff and energy than ever. I can't go outside if it's too windy either. Find both very distressing. xx

[Solily]

Hot humid air is my biggest enemy! Foggy weather which we have often where I live is another problem... live next to Lake Michigan in Wisconsin. Then of course... we can have very frigid weather in winter which can take your breath away even if you don't have lung issues. Give me a warm dry sunshine day and I am great!!