What To Do When You Have Trouble Breathing This Winter

The winter months can be tough on your health. The cold air, wind, and enclosed spaces can all lead to illness and physical discomfort. When you experience trouble breathing throughout the winter, you may panic at first. You wonder what is causing this troubled breathing and what you can do to get yourself back to normal. Luckily, there are several steps you can take to help remedy your breathing difficulties. All you need to do is learn the options available to you and give them a chance to help you feel better and breathe easier. 

Seek Medical Attention

Before you can treat your breathing difficulties yourself, you should consult a medical professional, such as at Family Allergy & Asthma Clinic. While your trouble breathing may be caused by a common cold, asthma, or just irritation from dry, cold air, it could also be something more serious. Conditions such as pneumonia, heart failure, and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) can also cause trouble breathing and require serious medical interventions. 

So, the first step you need to take is to go to the doctor to ensure that you are not suffering from one of these more serious conditions, or that if you are, you get the appropriate medications and treatments. This will ensure that you get healthy as soon as possible. 

Use A Humidifier

Winter is the season of dry air. Even when it is snowy and icy outside, the air remains dry and abrasive. This can be irritating to your lungs and makes breathing difficult and painful. 

While you cannot help what the air is like outside, you do have some control over the air in your home. Buying a humidifier will help you add moisture to the air in your home. These devices are easy to use.

All you need to do is add water to the tank and turn it on. The mist the humidifier emits will help you breathe easier and feel more comfortable. 

Use A Nasal Saline Solution

Sometimes your difficulty breathing is the result of nasal discomfort and congestion. To help remedy this, you can rinse out your nasal passages to free them of irritants and debris.

All you need to do is mix a teaspoon of salt into about eight ounces of hot water. Then, use a neti pot or other device to pour the solution into your nasal passages. Just pour the solution into one nostril, tilt your head and allow it to flow out of the other. Repeat on the other side.

This process will wash the debris out of your nasal passages, easing your discomfort and breathing difficulties. 

Breathe Through Your Nose As Much As Possible

Finally, in the winter more than any other time, it is important to try to breathe through your nose rather than your mouth. When you breathe through your mouth, the cold dry air goes directly into your throat and lungs, causing irritation and strain. 

When you breathe through your nose, the air is naturally warmed and humidified. So, after you clear out your nasal passages with the saline solution, make a conscious effort to breathe through your nose. 

When it comes to trouble breathing in the winter, all you need to do is take a few simple steps to ease your troubles. After you seek medical attention, take a few steps at home and you will find yourself feeling better in no time.