Will Being Outside In Cold Weather Give You A Cough? - ABC

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Q: Will being outside in cold weather give you a cough?

A: Yes. But only if it's very cold or if you have an existing respiratory condition.

Our expert: Dr Graeme Thompson

Published 24/07/2012

[Image source: iStockPhoto]

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Does colder weather affect your health?Conditions of Use

We're well into cold and flu season and it seems as though everyone is coughing.

While most of us are coughing because we've picked up one of the many winter viruses doing the rounds, could breathing the crisp winter air be causing your cough?

It's not likely if you're living in Australia, but it could be aggravating an existing cough, says respiratory specialist Dr Graeme Thompson.

"If the temperature is cold enough anyone can have a cough. But usually in Australia the temperature doesn't get cold enough, to do that you would really need to be in Siberia, Canada or somewhere like that," he says.

Cooler air can, however, exacerbate an existing cough. So if you have a cold or other respiratory infection – such as pneumonia or bronchitis – then being outside in the cold can make you cough. This is why most coughs seem to get worse when the temperature falls after dark.

"Any respiratory condition of the airways usually gets worse of a night time and we associate that with cold air and a little bit of the dryness and that sort of stuff, so young kids that have croup or a virus are always a little bit worse at 2am."

If you have a cough, especially if it's caused by a more serious infection such as pneumonia or bronchitis, then you should try and avoid the chilly air as much as possible, Thompson says.

"We wouldn't be wheeling our patients outside if they have pneumonia."

But this doesn't mean you need to shut yourself up inside every time you have a cough – sunshine, fresh air and the exercise that often goes with these can help you feel better. Just try and head outside during the day when it's a little warmer.

Coughs and asthma

Cold air is also a problem for people with asthma, especially when it's cold and dry.

"[Cold dry air makes] the airways lose water vapour and that causes an indirect spasm in the airways that causes wheezing and coughing," he says.

For people with asthma this is known as an indirect response, as opposed to a direct response, which occurs when someone reacts to their known asthma triggers. (For example, if you are allergic to cats and are exposed to cat fur and fluff – your asthma trigger – this will make you cough and wheeze, your direct response.)

Thompson says if you have asthma and are heading outside in very cold weather be sure to:

• take your preventer medication before you go outdoors.
• wrap a scarf around your neck and the bottom half of your face, covering your nose and mouth (this will help keep the air you breath warm and moist).
• carry your reliever medication in your pocket or inside your jacket, this keeps the active ingredients in the medication warm and ensures they get further down your airway.

But it's not just the weather that can make your asthma symptoms flare up. The following can also contribute:

• colds and respiratory viruses that are in abundance in winter
• smoke from fireplaces and wood stoves
• having to stay inside with other triggers, such as dust mites, pet dander etc.

Warm moist air

As for whether warm moist air will help to improve a cough, Thompson says it can, especially if you have an ongoing respiratory condition.

"I have patients that move to Queensland because it's better for them up there because their respiratory symptoms are better in the humid air."

However, he admits that this is not always the case and some people find intense humidity makes their condition worse.

Others swear by vaporisers or humidifiers as the best way to relieve a cough, but there is little evidence to support this.

"There are a lot of people who get a lot of symptomatic benefit from their humidifier and you can't convince those people that there's no evidence for those sorts of things."

If you are going to use a humidifier, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions and clean it after each use. Also it's best not to use a vaporiser around children as the steam produced can cause serious burns.

When to worry

Coughing for six to eight weeks after having a cold or other respiratory illness is really not unusual, Thompson says, and unfortunately there's very little you can do to ease your symptoms. (For more information check out: Does anything work for a cough).

But sometimes a cough is more than just a cough and in these cases you do need to get your doctor to check it out.

Thompson suggests speaking to your doctor about asthma if you have a cough plus one of the following:

• wheeze
• chest tightness
• sleeplessness
• symptoms that are worse after exercise
• family history of asthma
• family history of allergies to dust mites, grasses or mould.

If you have any of the following with a cough then you should get to a doctor as soon as possible:

• difficulty breathing
• persistent high fever
• severe chest pain
• coughing up blood.

Note also that severe coughing bouts, sometimes with a "whooping" sound on inhalation, can indicate whooping cough. Early treatment with antibiotics can help to relieve symptoms and can also limit the risk of you spreading the disease to babies, for whom it can be deadly.

Graeme Thompson is a Staff Specialist in Respiratory Medicine and Director of Physician Education at Campbelltown Hospital in New South Wales. He spoke with Claudine Ryan.

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