Cold Weather Worsens Asthma for Thousands in Denmark

Winter cold is hitting people with asthma especially hard across Denmark, according to Astma-Allergi Danmark. Frosty temperatures make breathing more difficult for those living with this chronic airway condition. The organization explains that inhaling cold air can cause the small muscles around the bronchial tubes to tighten, narrowing the airways and making it harder to breathe. At the same time, respiratory infections and influenza are spreading widely, increasing the risk of asthma flare-ups. Christine Højer Eriksen, an advisor at Astma-Allergi Danmark, said the organization has received many messages from members experiencing severe worsening of their symptoms, persistent colds, and high levels of respiratory viruses. Dry winter air also dries out the mucous membranes in the airways, causing irritation that leads to shortness of breath and troubled breathing. The group advises people who notice their asthma worsening in cold weather to consult a doctor. If cold-weather symptoms occur regularly, it may be necessary to adjust asthma treatment. Practical tips include pulling a scarf over the mouth to slightly warm incoming air and breathing through the nose whenever possible, as nasal breathing better warms and humidifies the air than mouth breathing. According to the Danish Meteorological Institute, temperatures dropped to minus 15 degrees Celsius in North Jutland, with more widespread frost of minus 10 to 15 degrees expected inland.