Skip to main content
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 24 November 2015
Woman in purple sweater and muffler holding her head and neck in distress

As the temperature plummets, asthma attacks and pneumonia cases rise. Family practitioner and paediatrician Dr Gita Mathai tells you why this is so and how to protect yourself. 

Asthma

What is asthma?

Asthma refers to a condition that causes shortness of breath with a whistling sound from the chest. It is also called "reactive airway disease". 

What causes asthma symptoms?

The whistling sound is caused by the narrowing of the tubes through which the air passes into the lungs. This narrowing can be a response to many triggers, like cold, allergens like dust, house mites and cockroach dander, pets, strong odours or viral or bacterial infection. As the allergen comes into contact with the airpipes, the smooth muscles in the airways constrict and narrow in asthmatics. In normal people, a mild cough will open up the airways again and clear them. In asthmatics, they remain constricted. In addition, the immune system of asthmatics responds to the contact with allergens by sending and concentrating white blood cells in the airways to fight the allergen. This has a negative effect, as the airways, in response, then secrete thick mucoid material that blocks and narrows them further. 

Why is asthma likely to be more frequent in winter?

• People tend to keep their houses closed in the cold season. This means that any pollutants in the environment are more likely to stay there.

• Viral infections like the cold and flu are commoner in winter. These increase lung secretions. 

• The cold air itself can cause the airways to go into spasm. 

What precautions do you need to take?

• Wear a muffler so that the air you breathe in is warm.

• Breathe through your nose. The nose warms the air. When you breathe through the mouth, the cold air enters directly.

• Control your asthma in the summer months and have an action plan in consultation with your physician for the winter months.

• Take maintenance medications on time

Take your flu immunisation in October. It will protect you and prevent infection for six months till the winter is over. Asthma is aggravated by flu.

• Hydrate yourself adequately so that the mucous in the lungs does not become viscid.

• Moisturise the room with a steamer or take steam inhalation twice a day. (More than 50% humidity is counter productive).

• Maintain your exercise schedule.

Must Read: How To Manage Asthma Effectively 

 

Pneumonia

What is pneumonia?

It is an infection of the lungs that is caused by viruses or bacteria. The onset of pneumonia is quite different from that of cold or flu. It is rapid (usually 24-48 hours) with high fever, chills, malaise, rapid breathing, fast heart rate, chest pain and productive cough with coloured (yellow green or brown) sputum that may be blood stained. 

A viral cold or flu sets in more gradually (over 5-7 days), the fever is not as high, the expectoration clear or mucous like.

Why does the incidence increase in winter?

The incidence of pneumonia increases in winter because people tend to stay indoors, maintain close proximity and not wash their hands as frequently (hand washing reduces infection). 

Who are more susceptible?

Infants and children under the age of 3 years, people over 60, those who are immuno-compromised (HIV infection, cancer), smokers or those who have lifestyle diseases like diabetes, liver or kidney disease. In all these cases the body’s immune system is weak and compromised. As soon as a virulent bacteria or virus attacks, it gains a foothold, the body’s defences collapse causing severe infections like pneumonia.

What precautions do you need to take to protect yourself?

• Immunise children appropriately against measles, German measles, mumps and chicken pox. Although these viral infections do not in themselves cause pneumonia, they weaken the immune system so that the child is more prone to pneumonia. 

• Children need H. Influenzae vaccine as well. Both children (over six months) and adults need a flu shot every winter. Children and those over 65 years need pneumococcal vaccine. Prevention is always better than cure. Speak to your doctor about these vaccines.

Related : Diabetes Maintenance Schedule 

• Stay at home if you are ill so that you do not infect others. If a child is sick do not send them to school.

• Practise frequent hand washing

• Do not smoke or stand near smokers.

• Exercise and a healthy lifestyle boosts immunity against disease.

Also read about Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Pneumonia 

 

 

Condition

Stories

  • A woman in a red dress coughing and text overlay Understanding A Cough
    Know What Your Cough Could Mean
    We have all had a cough in our life. While it is our body's natural reflex and a routine occurrence, a cough may signify more than a bodily function. It may be a powerful signal, an expression of our respiratory system trying to communicate with us. Whether the cough is fleeting, annoying, or persistent, it is a call for attention to the intricacies of our health. Through this article, we will decode everything about coughing and the significance it holds in the broader context of our health.…
  • Pic of words like wheezing coughing and Asthma with a focus on Asthma
    अस्थमा के बारे में जानकारी ।
    दुनिया भर में लगभग 200 से 250 मिलियन (20 से 25 करोड़) लोग अस्थमा (दमा) से प्रभावित हैं और हर साल लगभग 250,000 लोग अस्थमा के कारण मरते हैं। अस्थमा ज्यादातर बचपन में शुरू होता है। इस लेख में अस्थमा के बारे में जानकारी प्राप्त करें ।  अस्थमा एक दीर्घकालिक (क्रोनिक) फेफड़ों की बीमारी है जो वायुमार्ग में सूजन (इन्फ्लमेशन) पैदा करती है और जिसमें वायुमार्ग संकुचित होता है। वायुमार्ग वे  नलिकाएं (ब्रोन्कियल) होती हैं जो फेफड़ों में हवा को अंदर और बाहर करती हैं। अस्थमा वाले लोगों में…
  • A park where people are walking and a sign on a tree that indicates not to feed birds
    क्या कबूतरों की वजह से फेफड़ों की बीमारियाँ (लंग डिज़ीज़) हो सकती हैं?
    क्या आप जानते हैं कि कबूतर को दाना डालने जैसी सामान्य गतिविधि से कभी-कभी फेफड़ों की बीमारियां हो सकती हैं? वरिष्ठ पल्मोनोलॉजिस्ट डॉ। प्रह्लाद प्रभुदेसाई कबूतरों के कारण होने वाले स्वास्थ्य खतरों पर हमारे सवालों का जवाब देते हैं। क्या आप चूहों को खाना देने के लिए पार्क जाने की कल्पना कर सकते हैं? नहीं! लेकिन हम अकसर लोगों को कबूतरों को दाना डालते हुए देखते हैं। वैज्ञानिक शोध से प्रमाण मिला है कि कबूतर हमारे स्वास्थ्य के लिए उतने ही खतरनाक हो सकते हैं जितने कि चूहे जैसे जानवर । मनुष्यों द्वारा…
  • A woman holding her young son
    Recognize Asthma Triggers and Follow Treatment
    A child suffering from asthma can give parents many tense moments and sleepless nights. Early diagnosis, right treatment and the awareness of triggers are the best ways to deal with it, says Sangeeta, a concerned mother. When was your son first diagnosed with Asthma? At the age of three, he was diagnosed with childhood asthma. It is a common problem today with many kids due to pollution and dust. Also, artificially coloured food triggered it.  What were his early symptoms? Breathing…
  • Asthma patient Anjali in a beige and red sari
    अस्थमा (दमा) को गंभीरता से लें और जल्द से जल्द इलाज कराएं
    78 वर्षीय अंजलि सेन ने अपना अधिकांश जीवन अस्थमा का सामना करते हुए गुजारा है।इस लेख में वे बताती हैं कि वे कैसे इस दीर्घ कालिक बीमारी और इससे होने वाली परेशानी से जूझती रहीं। वह कोलकाता में रहती हैं। गृहिणी होने के साथ ही वह एक उत्साही पाठक और क्रिकेट प्रेमी भी हैं। क्या आप संक्षिप्त में अपनी स्थिति के बारे में बता सकती हैं? दौरा सांस लेने में मामूली तकलीफ के साथ शुरू होता है और जल्द ही यह दम फूलने, हांफने और घुटन का रूप धारण कर लेता है।पर पिछले 12 से 15 वर्षों के दौरान मुझे अस्थमा का कोई गंभीर…
  • How To Deal With Asthma During Covid-19
    Vijay Nallawala, founder of Bipolar India support group, who has lived through several critical attacks of asthma, details the precautions, rigorous routine and optimistic spirit to keep coronavirus at bay.  Anjali Sen, 81 who is an asthma and heart patient shares her perspective as well. Note: While this interview is based on the first wave of Covid-19, there are useful lessons in it for everyone with asthma. Considering Covid-19 primarily results in lung complications, do you feel…
  • अस्थमा (दमा) के मरीज़ों के लिए तीन व्यायाम
    अहमदाबाद के संजीव अपने स्कूल के दिनों में बिस्तर के पास ऑक्सीजन सिलिंडर रखकर सोते थे, लेकिन अब उन्हें ऐसा नहीं करना पड़ता। संजीव बताते हैं कि किस तरह उन्होंने अस्थमा की चुनौतियों का सामना करते हुए इस परजीत हासिल की और वे कौनसे तीन व्यायाम हैं जो ठीक तरह सांस लेने में उनकी मदद करते हैं। मुझे बहुत छोटी उम्र से ही अस्थमा रहा है। अस्थमा के हल्के दौरे तो पूरे साल आते रहते हैं, लेकिन किसी ट्रिगर की मौजूदगी में येबढ़जाते हैं। ट्रिगर, जैसे धूम्रपान, गंध, धूल, खाने की कुछ चीजें जैसे मक्का और दही आदि।…
  • अस्थमा(दमा) के ट्रिगर्स को पहचाने और उपचार के नियमों का पालन करें
    अस्थमा पीड़ित बच्चे के माता-पिता को कई तनावपूर्ण हालातों से गुजरना पड़ता हैं और उनकी रातों की नींद उड़ सकती है। ऐसी ही एक मां संगीता का कहना है कि शुरुआती दौर में रोग का निदान, सही उपचार और अस्थमा के ट्रिगर्स को पहचानना ही इससे निपटने का सबसे अच्छा तरीका है। आपके बेटे को अस्थमा पहली बार कब हुआ था? तीन साल की उम्र में यह पता चला कि उसे बचपन का अस्थमा है। प्रदूषण और धूल के कारण आज कई बच्चों में यह एक आम समस्या है। इसके अलावा भोजन में कृत्रिम रंगों के उपयोग ने भी इसे भड़काया था। Read in English:…
  • How To Manage Asthma Effectively
    Simple lifestyle changes that any one can follow to help you deal with asthma. Check the tips in slide show format and download the e-book on Asthma Management  For more details read advice from nutitionist Kohila Govindaraju on Foods That Fight Asthma and Allergies  And don't forget to download our comprehensive ebook on Asthma Management here. If you have registered before, please make sure you are logged in. If you have not registered before, you will need to register. Join…
  • Benefits of Pulmonary Rehabilitation
    Riddhi Shah, MPT , a Cardio-pulmonary physiotherapist in Ahmedabad, Gujarat helps us understand the basics of Pulmonary Rehabilitation and what it entails for patients with Chronic Lung Diseases. 1.   What is Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR)? Pulmonary rehabilitation is “the art of medical practice wherein an individually tailored, multidisciplinary program is formulated, which through accurate diagnosis, therapy, emotional support and education stabilizes or reverses both the physio-…