How Manitobans can protect their lungs during cold snaps

Juliette Mucha with the Manitoba Lung Association shares advice for avoiding lung irritation during the winter months.

Manitoba’s extreme cold can sometimes take your breath away.

Turns out, it can also have adverse effects on your lungs.

Manitoba Lung Association president and CEO Juliette Mucha said frigid temperatures can not only damage our skin, with the risk of frostbite, but can also directly irritate and tighten airways, making breathing harder.

“It also worsens for people with lung conditions,” she said in an interview on Your Morning Winnipeg.

Still, Mucha said there are simple things Manitobans can do to lessen winter’s icy effects on our lungs.

For example, paying attention to your breathing can go a long way. Specifically, breathing through your nose, instead of your mouth, can be helpful in cold weather.

“Your nose actually acts as a way to warm up the air before it gets to your lungs because when we sometimes get that gust of cold, we lose our breath,” she said.

“If we can actually breathe from our nose, use that as our insulation to warm up our lungs, that can be helpful.”

Additionally, covering your face when outside in extreme cold with a scarf or neck warmer can also lessen lung irritation and damage.

Where possible, minimize time spent outside, Mucha added.

Manitobans can also take some preventative steps in their homes by managing humidity and ensuring proper ventilation when cooking or using a fireplace to heat the space.

For those with lung conditions, Mucha said it’s critical they carry their inhalers and have an action plan at the ready.

“Speak with your physician and pharmacist and make sure that you have the tips because we need to make sure that we’re staying safe during these Manitoba winters.”

- With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagacé