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Dec. 29, 2025—When the temperature drops, you may need to up your game to stay on top of a lung disease like asthma or COPD. That's because the cold season can bring unique challenges for people with these conditions, especially during physical activity.

Why is winter hard on lungs?

A combination of factors can make winter more challenging for people with lung disease:

Cold, dry air can irritate the lungs. During the winter months, the air we breathe in is colder. It's also drier this time of year. When you're outdoors, this cold, dry air can irritate your lungs, especially if they're already vulnerable due to asthma or COPD, the American Lung Association (ALA) notes. This can make the muscles around the airways in the lungs tighten. The airways can become narrow and filled with mucus. In some people, this can trigger wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath or a burning feeling in the chest. Cold weather is more likely to bother your lungs when you're exercising and breathing harder.

Winter is virus season. Respiratory infections, like colds and the flu, tend to circulate more in winter.

Indoor air quality. Winter also means more time indoors, where you may be exposed to allergens and irritants that can exacerbate asthma or COPD.

Breathe easier this winter

You can take steps to stay healthy and active this winter. Here are a few that experts suggest:

Take your medicines as directed. If you're on a daily controller medicine, take it just as prescribed.

Remember your rescue inhaler. It may come in handy if you go outside and the cold aggravates your symptoms.

Consider covering your nose and mouth with a scarf. This warms and dampens the outdoor air before it enters your lungs and makes it less likely to bother your breathing.

Ask your doctor about using your inhaler before you exercise in the cold. Getting ready to work out? Using a rescue inhaler 20 to 30 minutes before physical activity may help head off symptoms, according to the ALA.

Stay indoors on the coldest days if cold air exacerbates your lung disease symptoms. Exercising at home or in a mall may be a better option. If you have questions, your doctor can help you understand what types and amounts of exercise are safe to do.

Breathe in through your nose. The nose is better than the mouth at warming air before it reaches the lungs.

Clear the air. Vacuuming, dusting and washing bedding in hot water are a few ways to reduce indoor triggers that build up in winter. Briefly opening a window each day might also help. If you must use a woodstove or fireplace, have it serviced to make sure it's venting properly.

Get vaccinated. Get a yearly flu shot. Ask your doctor if you're up-to-date on other vaccinations, such as COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Take charge of your winter wellness

Discover more ways to stay healthy this winter in our Winter Health topic center.

Sources

• AARP. "Is Cold Weather Bad for Your Lungs?" https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/is-cold-weather-bad-for-your-lungs/.
• American Heart Association. "What Cold Weather Does to the Body and How to Protect Yourself This Winter." https://www.heart.org/en/news/2025/01/03/what-cold-weather-does-to-the-body-and-how-to-protect-yourself-this-winter.
• American Lung Association. "Staying Safe from Indoor Air Pollution This Winter." https://www.lung.org/blog/indoor-air-quality-winter.
• American Lung Association. "Tips for Outdoor Exercise in Cold Temperatures." https://www.lung.org/blog/outdoor-exercise-winter.
• American Lung Association. "Why Is My Asthma Worse in the Winter?" https://www.lung.org/blog/cold-weather-asthma.