Too Hot to Handle? Why Heat and Humidity are Hazards for COPD

Summer can feel like the longest season because heat and humidity can increase my risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) flares.

While many people may celebrate the warmer temperatures and brush off the humidity as a good reason to head to the beach, those with breathing conditions like COPD may not feel happy about the heat.

I belong to the latter group. Heat is not my friend, and humidity is closer to my enemy. When I open the door and get that blast of balmy air, I find it difficult to catch my breath.

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Why heat and humidity make it hard to breathe

It may not be your imagination. Air temperatures tend to increase, and there’s data to show it. When the air is hot and humid, it’s denser. I’ve found this type of weather can make my airways narrow and tighten and increase lung inflammation.

Humidity tends to make your body work harder to breathe, which can make those of us with COPD feel fatigued and like we’re suffocating. That’s why some people with COPD may have to increase their oxygen in this type of climate.

Higher temperatures can also increase ozone levels (pollution) in the air. A 2020 research review said that ozone exposure can directly affect people living with respiratory conditions, including COPD and asthma. The researchers wrote that it causes long lasting exacerbations (flare-ups). They also wrote that long-term ozone exposure can increase our risk of hospitalizations and advance our disease quicker than expected.

Managing COPD in humid weather

We can’t make the weather change, but we can change how we deal with it. Here are a few tips I’ve learned:

• Avoid going out when the heat and humidity are high.
• Keep your activities to the morning when there’s lower heat and better air quality.
• Stay in the shade as much as you can.

If I must go out at warmer times, I’ve learned to:

• Take out one of those N-95 masks I use in the winter to protect myself from disease. They work in the summer similarly to how a scarf around your mouth does to keep the bad air out in the winter. 
• Wear lightweight fabrics, such as cotton or linen, to keep from sweating too much and holding the heat in your body.
• Drink water. Be especially mindful of this in the summer when getting dehydrated tends to be easier. When you are dry, getting air in and out of your body can be harder. Liquids can also help thin the mucus, making it easier to get it out of your lungs, though alcohol and caffeine can have the opposite effect and dehydrate you.

Humidity sneaks inside, too

Even when my air conditioning is on, and the temperature is down inside, I sometimes feel the humidity in my house. Your home can reflect the humidity outside. I also worry that the more humid things are inside, the better the chances are of mold and dust mites developing. Both are bad for my respiratory health.

Takeaway

Before you head outside this summer, pay attention to the heat index. You can get this information from the weather broadcast on TV. It’s also available in most weather apps on phones. A high heat index or low air quality are signs to put off any outings you can. It’s not a day for overexertion.

It’s a long summer, and you want to manage your COPD so you can be healthy enough to spend time enjoying it.

If you cannot catch your breath and your inhaler and oxygen are not helping, go to the emergency room or call 911.