More than 11 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or COPD, according to the American Lung Association — and many more have the serious lung disease but don’t know it.
The third leading killer of Americans, COPD — a catch-all term for emphysema and chronic bronchitis — leads to shortness of breath and can disrupt sleep, work and life in general. Though it’s not curable, treatment can provide some relief and improve quality of life. Yet frequently environmental factors that may worsen symptoms go unchecked. Case in point: uncomfortably hot temperatures inside and indoor air pollution, namely particulate matter from secondhand smoke to dust.
A study conducted by Johns Hopkins University researchers found that people with COPD reported an increase in symptoms — breathlessness, cough and sputum, or saliva plus mucus coughed up from the respiratory tract — and the use of rescue inhaler medications associated with an increase in indoor temperatures. The study was conducted in Baltimore during the warmest months, when the maximum temperature inside homes routinely exceeded 80 degrees on days when study participants didn’t use central air conditioning to cool their homes. Increases in indoor air pollution exaggerated the adverse effects, according to the research published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society in September. “The conditions of having indoor heat and then indoor pollution result in an effect that’s greater than either of those alone,” says Dr. Meredith McCormack, the lead study author and an associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
[See: 16 Ways Your Body Adjusts to a New Climate.]
Amid concerns about climate change that’s expected to lead to more frequent and severe heat waves in places like Baltimore, researchers say the study supports strategies aimed at changing the indoor environment to minimize health risks for those with COPD. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to indoor air pollution is one of the foremost environmental public health risks, as studies show that air pollution is frequently more highly concentrated indoors than out. We also spend the vast majority of our time indoors, the agency notes.
Dr. Barry Make, a pulmonologist with National Jewish Health in Denver, says patients he sees with COPD frequently complain about feeling worse when it’s hot. “So this extended that observation from outdoors to indoors,” he says of the research, adding that it documented respiratory symptoms are worse when it’s hotter. To lessen the potential effect for people with COPD when it’s warmer outside, he advises monitoring symptoms and turning on the air condition as necessary to stay cool and comfortable. For people who aren’t able to keep their homes sufficiently cool during heat waves, McCormack advises getting to a cooling center — an air-conditioned public space set up by local authorities to provide just such relief, where available — or another cool place, like a mall.
The research led by McCormack didn’t find any effect on lung function from higher indoor temperature and air pollution, despite increases in COPD symptoms. And the study didn’t evaluate whether being hotter inside raises a person’s risk of dying from COPD. “But large studies have been done at the population level that have shown with increases in temperature — for example, heat waves — we have increases in deaths; and the people that are usually affected the most are the elderly and are those with chronic medical problems, including COPD,” McCormack says.
[See: 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Lung Cancer.]
To reduce indoor air pollution, experts say don’t let anyone smoke in the home. Despite the known ill effects of secondhand smoke, Make says people still frequently smoke inside.
In addition to addressing indoor air pollution, McCormack says air purifiers with HEPA, or high-efficiency particulate air, filters reduce particulate matter in the home. She notes studies demonstrating health benefits have largely used portable air purifiers with HEPA filters, which are commercially available and cost roughly $150 to $500. She also recommends ensuring the stove is properly vented to the outdoors and making sure appliances, including heaters, are inspected and are in good working order.
Keep in close contact with your doctor as temperatures increase. “When it’s hot, it’s more likely you’re going to need more of your medications, says Dr. Gerard Frank, a pulmonologist and clinical professor of medicine at UCLA.
That said, Frank notes as the researchers do that given the study is based in Baltimore, the results don’t necessarily reflect what occurs in other parts of the country. “Baltimore tends to be humid, and there may be differences in effects in different regions, including those with dryer climates,” McCormack says. She adds that population studies that have looked at outdoor temperature or heat waves and death rates or hospitalization have suggested that heat effects may vary somewhat by region. “Extremes of heat may have greater adverse impact in climates that are milder compared to those that are generally warmer,” she says.
[See: 7 Lifestyle Tips to Manage Your Asthma.]
Taking in the bigger picture, McCormack adds climate change must be addressed at a policy level, since even turning on air conditioning, which may help an individual get comfortable, contributes to the greenhouse effect that’s gradually warming the planet. Large-scale solutions, she says, are ultimately needed to solve the effects of increasing heat on human health.
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Combating COPD at Home originally appeared on usnews.com
