How can we help?
The onset of cold weather brings with it the usual challenges – staying warm, keeping off the extra kilograms from regular hot chocolates, and so on. And for those who live with breathing challenges like asthma, breathing the colder winter air can bring some extra hardships.
The cold dry air can irritate your lungs and lead to tightness in the chest, difficulties breathing, wheezing and coughing, and increases in mucus. Excess mucus sitting in your lungs can then lead to chest infections. All this can make winter a very uncomfortable time of the year!
Thankfully, there are things we can do about it. In partnership with Asthma Australia, Senior Respiratory Physiotherapist Janet Bondarenko will be hosting a free online class titled Breathing in Cold Weather to discuss these seasonal problems and some solutions.
The class will help people understand their breathing challenges, including asthma, and present some practical and effective strategies to help us all stay well over the colder months. These include simple exercises that help clear excess mucus from the lungs and may reduce the risk of chest infections.
Another strategy that will be discussed is huffing, which involves taking a breath in, holding it, and actively exhaling. This may be less tiring and can be particularly useful for those who also have bronchiectasis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). All the techniques will be practised during the class.