When you have a lung disease, whether that’s related to asbestos exposure and mesothelioma or another condition, the cold winter weather can literally take your breath away.
How can you cope? When the temperatures drop and the ice and snow get started, you need to be proactive and protective about your health. Here are some tips that may help you manage during the most challenging months of the year in this regard.
Bundle up
Cold air is usually dry and dry air can irritate the bronchial tubes in your lungs, causing them to constrict. That can induce coughing, wheezing and a general shortness of breath. When it’s cold outside, you can combat this problem by loosely wrapping a scarf around your nose and mouth to help warm the air as you inhale. You should also make certain that you dress in layers so that you can keep warm, since exposure to the cold can leave you vulnerable to respiratory infections.
Get your shots
If you have lung cancer, you may already have a weakened immune system due to your treatment and the disease itself, so you have a higher-than-average chance of developing complications from a cold or flu. Talk to your doctor about the flu shot, the pneumonia shot and any other boosters you may need and follow their recommendations.
Mask up and wash up
Unless you don’t leave the house at all, you’re bound to come into contact with sick people when you’re out. When you go shopping, visit a doctor’s office or go somewhere for entertainment, wear a mask so that you can limit your exposure to other people’s germs. Similarly, carry hand sanitizer with you and make liberal use of it, especially after you touch doorknobs, countertops, shared pens at the doctor’s office and the like.
Lung diseases can leave you feeling very limited, and the risks to your overall health are manifold when you suffer from one. If you have an asbestos-related lung disease, it’s important to be aware that there may be compensation available – even if the place where you were exposed no longer exists or your exposure was long ago. Seeking legal guidance can help you learn more so that you can focus on managing your health, not on making ends meet while juggling costs related to your condition.