Tag Archive for: bronchitis

How Cold Weather Causes Respiratory Issues

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For many people in Florida, monitoring the weather forecast dictates whether or not you should bring an umbrella, or if this weekend will be good to go to the beach, etc. However, if you have a lung disease, then monitoring the forecast and preparing accordingly can help you to avoid provoking symptoms.

This is especially true of cold weather. As winter sets in and the temperature drops, the air typically becomes drier. And for people with asthma, COPD, or bronchitis this dry air means throat irritation, wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Cold weather and respiratory disorders are linked for a few reasons. Let’s look at why and how to deal with it.

Why Does Cold Air Irritate Respiratory

Disorders?

It all comes back to dry air. Naturally, your airways are lined with a thin layer of fluid, and when you inhale dry air that fluid evaporates quicker than normal. In some cases, the fluid evaporates faster than it can be replaced. This causes the throat to become dry, and a dry throat leads to irritation and swelling which worsens the symptoms of asthma and COPD. 

Cold weather also increases mucus production. Mucus is the protective layer of the throat, however the mucus produced in cold conditions is thicker and stickier than normal. This can cause blockages in the respiratory system and also increases your likelihood of catching a cold or other infection.

Tips for Dealing With the Cold

There are certain ways to help cope with the cold, dry air that winter brings. For people with respiratory problems, it may be wise to take extra precautions during these months to avoid an onset of symptoms. Let’s look at a few precautions: 

·      Take all medication as prescribed: If you have a respiratory condition, then it is wise to do this always. But in the cold months it could pay off to be doubly aware of your medication and treatment regiment. 

·      Cover your nose and mouth with a scarf: If you loosely wrap a scarf around your nose and mouth, then it warms the air before it gets to the lungs. This can help prevent the symptoms associated with cold, dry air.

·      Breathe in you nose and out of your mouth: Your nose has blood vessels that warm and humidify the air before it gets to your lungs. Increased mouth inhalation brings the irritating cold, dry air straight to your lungs.

·      Avoid outdoor exercise in the cold: If you suffer from respiratory problems, then outdoor exercise in severe cold weather can really hurt your lungs. As your breathing and heart rate increase during strenuous exercise, people tend to inhale through their mouth, which brings on irritation and swelling. 

·      Keep quick-relief medication on hand: If you begin to display respiratory symptoms, it can be very helpful to have quick-relief medicine nearby and accessible. 

·      Monitor the forecast: Being prepared is a great way to prevent respiratory symptoms. Make sure you dress weather appropriate. Carry a scarf if you need to. If you get cold then your immune system slows down and makes you more susceptible to lung infections.

Treatment

To learn more about how to treat respiratory disorders such as asthma, COPD, bronchitis, lung infections, and pulmonary hypertension you can visit The Pulmonary Associates of Brandon. They can help you diagnose and treat your condition. They offer a full line of diagnostic and treatment procedures from pulmonary function tests to hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Common Lung Infections Treated at Pulmonary Associates of Brandon

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ccording to the National Institute of Health, in a normal day a person takes about 25,000 breaths. The importance of the lungs to general health cannot be overstated. The lungs help to oxygenate your blood and expel carbon dioxide, two extremely vital bodily processes. The oxygen in red blood cells is transported throughout the body and is a necessary component of almost every cellular process that occurs.

Without properly functioning lungs, overall health decreases considerably. There are many different types of lung diseases, but some of the most deadly and dangerous lung diseases are lung infections. Fortunately our Tampa pulmonary group is here to offer treatment options for even the most challenging cases.

Let’s look at some common lung infections, and symptoms of pulmonary issues:

Treating Bronchitis in Tampa

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is the infection and inflammation of the bronchi, which are the medium and large airways in the lungs. Bronchitis is typically a viral infection, however, in some cases the cause is air pollution or bacteria. Acute bronchitis is an extremely common infection. It is often referred to as a “chest cold” and typically goes away within a few weeks. But, if bronchitis occurs often or for extended periods of time, then a patient might have “chronic bronchitis” and should seek medical attention and treatment.

Symptoms of bronchitis include a productive cough (with yellow or green mucus), runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, sore ribs from prolonged coughing, wheezing, and a whistling sound when breathing.

Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is similar to bronchitis, except it is the infection and inflammation of bronchioles, which are the smallest air passageways of the lungs. Bronchiolitis is almost always a viral infection and mostly affects children and infants. It can present in adults, however it is rare and very serious. Bronchiolitis can cause scarring of the bronchioles and other lung tissue.

The symptoms of bronchiolitis are similar to those of bronchitis. They include shortness of breath, wheezing, fatigue, cough, fast breathing, cracking or rattling sounds heard in the lungs, and bluish appearance of the skin from lack of oxygen.

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Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an inflammatory infection of the alveoli in the lungs. According to Dr. Hooker, “pneumonia is a tricky infection because it can be either bacterial, viral, or fungal.” The alveoli are microscopic air sacs in the lungs, which are invaluable to blood oxygenation. Pneumonia causes these sacs to fill up with fluid and impedes their function.

There are over 30 types of pneumonia, and they are typically classified into groups based on their cause. Bacteria, viruses, inhalation of toxins, and fungi can all be causes of pneumonia. Some pneumonia can be overcome without medication at home, however, other treatments include antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, and other over the counter treatments.

The pulmonary symptoms of pneumonia can vary. Common symptoms include coughing (often mucus producing), fever, shaking, chills, fast breathing, shallow breathing, chest pain, fast heartbeat, nausea, and fatigue.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection of the lungs that used to be extremely common, and then became very uncommon. However, according to Dr. Lorch, “tuberculosis has become more common in the recent past in AIDS patients and other patients with compromised immune systems, such as individuals undergoing chemotherapy.”

Tuberculosis is a very serious condition, but thankfully, it is rare in otherwise healthy adults in the United States. Symptoms of tuberculosis include coughing that lasts for three or more weeks, coughing up blood, chest pain, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, fever, chills, and loss of appetite. TB can also affect your kidneys, spine, and brain.

Pulmonary Associates of Brandon

If you are experiencing lung disease symptoms in the Tampa Bay area, then you can go to the Pulmonary Associates of Brandon. Their highly trained staff can perform a range of diagnostic testing such as pulmonary function tests and chest x-rays to determine whether or not you have a lung infection, and how to treat it.