Living in the Midwest, you learn to prepare for all four seasons on a daily basis. In the wintertime, however, the harsh, extreme temperatures can be a cruel wake up call for those with respiratory issues.

Aimee Cottrell, respiratory therapist at Union Health, says the cold air is a perfect trigger for any kind of respiratory flare-up.

"This time of year, extremely cold weather can cause bronchoconstriction to your airways, so it tightens those airways," Cottrell said. "It can make it harder to breathe, making you feel short of breath. It can also cause coughing."

To reduce those flare-ups, there are preventative steps you can take in order to limit your exposure to Old Man Winter.

"We really encourage you, if you have to go outside, to wear a scarf around your mouth to help warm the air and humidify it, so it will keep you from coughing and feeling as short of breath," Cottrell said.  "If you do have to go out, we encourage you to start your car in advance, if that's a possibility, park in the garage or go during the warmest part of the day. If you wear oxygen, tuck your oxygen tubing inside your jacket to help warm your oxygen tubing – that will help keep it humidified as well."

The intense weather conditions are also taking a toll on COVID-19 patients.

"We have found that we have a lot of patients that are still experiencing a lot of decreased endurance and shortness of breath as they are recovering from COVID," Cottrell said. "You may experience the same shortness of breath when you go outside because it will constrict your airways, as well."

To help those patients, a new Post-COVID Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program has been created at Union Health. Any patient recovering from COVID can join as early as 10 days after a diagnosis, if he/she is fever-free. Once you are enrolled in the program, you'll meet with a respiratory therapist twice a week, for eight weeks.
 

"The goal is to increase your endurance and decrease your shortness of breath so you're able to return to your normal activities you were able to do prior to your COVID diagnosis," Cottrell said. "Most of the patients we see have never experienced lung disease before, so this is a new process for them. They have found the program to be pretty beneficial with helping them recover from COVID."

Classes are held twice a week in the Pulmonary Rehab Lab. Most insurances are accepted and patients can also self-refer.

To learn more about the Post-COVID Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program, call 812.238.7822.

Cottrell says the most important reminder is to simply not wait.

"As soon as you start to see a change in mucus color or an increase in shortness of breath, we encourage you to see your doctor, Cottrell said. "The longer you wait, especially if you have chronic lung disease, the longer it's going to take you to recover. You may work with your doctor to get an action plan in place and that way you know what steps to take if you do feel short of breath."