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Individuals living with lung diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis or emphysema, know full well that the weather can impact how they feel. Summer’s high heat and humidity can often leave people with these types of pulmonary conditions feeling short of breath. According to Frank Rizzuto, R.R.T., Director of Respiratory Care and Neurodiagnostic Services at Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood, the majority of individuals with compromised lung function suffer from obstructive lung disease, restrictive lung disease – or a combination of the two.
“Obstructive lung disease,” he explains, “results in a decrease in the exhaled air flow caused by a narrowing or blockage of the airways, which can occur with conditions such as asthma, emphysema or chronic bronchitis. For those individuals with restrictive lung disease, they experience a decrease in the total volume of air that the lungs are able to hold. This can be due to a decrease in the elasticity of the lungs, a problem related to the expansion of the chest wall during inhalation, or a defect in the ability of the lung's air sac tissue to move oxygen into a person's blood,” he says.
According to Rizzuto, most lung diseases actually involve a combination of the two, such as emphysema, which involves both airflow obstruction and problems with oxygenation. If you or a loved one has asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other lung conditions, the hazy, hot days of summer can seem to worsen breathing problems. According Rizzuto, that’s because as the humidity in the air increases so does the density of the air we breathe.
“Humid air has a higher viscosity in the respiratory system than dryer air, forcing our muscles to work harder to move a specific volume of air,” he explains. “The lungs require more energy to move the heavier air, use more oxygen to generate that energy, and then need to move more air to meet that increased metabolic need,” he explains.
According to Rizzuto, individuals compromised by asthma, COPD, or other breathing concerns, will find it even more difficult to compensate physiologically – leaving them short of breath.
In addition, as humidity increases, the amount of airborne allergens – such as pollen, dust mites and mold - also increases. This can irritate lung tissue and further compromise our ability to breathe easily.
Recognizing that heat and humidity may aggravate existing pulmonary problems is key to preventing a problem. “When you are spending time outdoors, it’s important to know your limits and to pace yourself,” advises Rizzuto. “Move slower during outdoor activities. Try and keep cool and hydrated and don’t stay in the sun for extended periods of time,” he adds.
Rizzuto says that most people with heat-related breathing difficulties tend to feel better when they go indoors. “Spending time outdoors in the heat requires our bodies to work harder just to cool us down and maintain our body temperature,” he says. “Whenever our bodies are forced to work harder, we require more oxygen. For most people, that’s not usually an issue. However, anyone with underlying pulmonary problems is going to be more sensitive and struggle with that additional need. For those people, moving to an air conditioned location offers you the ability to breath drier air again and should help you catch your breath,” he notes.
“You can also try breathing through pursed lips,” he adds. “Inhale slowly through your nose, then purse your lips as you exhale, almost as if you were going to whistle.” Pursed-lip breathing, he says, can help individuals catch their breath, particularly for patients with COPD whose lungs tend to collapse quickly during exhalation.
For individuals with asthma, Rizzuto recommends regular monitoring using a peak flow meter. “A peak flow meter can help individuals with asthma gauge their air flow and adjust their activities accordingly,” he says. Asthmatics blow forcefully into the meter, which measures the flow of air expelled during exhalation. “Monitoring with the peak flow meter on a regular basis can help individuals with asthma detect even subtle changes in lung function, which can help them avoid potentially serious flare ups of their condition.”
If difficulty breathing or shortness of breath persists despite relief efforts, Rizzuto says a call to your doctor is most likely in order. “Depending on your age, health and pulmonary history, your doctor may recommend medication or breathing treatments to increase your lung function and ability to breathe easier.”
The Respiratory Care Services department at Kimball Medical Center offers numerous diagnostic tests and screenings to help evaluate respiratory status of patients. This is helpful to patients scheduled for surgery, as well as those with acute or chronic respiratory conditions. The department also provides a variety of breathing treatments, instruction on breathing exercises, and varied respiratory counseling services, including smoking cessation assistance – all designed to help individuals breathe easier year-round.
For information on respiratory care services or to schedule an appointment, please call Kimball Medical Center’s Respiratory Care Services department at (732) 886-4426. For a referral to a pulmonologist on the hospital’s staff – a doctor who specializes in the lungs and breathing – please call 1-888-724-7123.
CONTACT: Kristine A. Brown
Director of Public Relations
(732) 557-3902
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