Pennsylvania’s winter weather could make your lung disease worse than ever. Asbestos-related lung conditions such as mesothelioma take time to present. If you only realized you were suffering this spring or summer, you could be in for a nasty shock when the temperatures plummet.
Breathing in becomes more difficult when the air is frosty. Lung disease makes breathing more difficult on the warmest of days, so you can imagine how it will feel mid-February when the ground is deep with snow.
Winter can also weaken your immune system, which your condition has already damaged. It can leave you more susceptible to other diseases and mean it takes longer to recover from even simple things such as a cold.
Does this mean you should turn up the fire, pull up the covers and wait until spring before venturing out? No. First, you would lose the exercise and the mental stimulation which help to keep your body healthy. Second, there is no cure for mesothelioma, so you may prefer to live out your remaining days in full.
Wrapping up warm can help protect your lungs
To reduce the effect winter has on your condition, you can do two things. First, try to boost your immune system by eating well, staying hydrated, taking vitamins and getting some sunshine. Second, try to protect your lungs from cold air. You could do this by wearing a scarf or mask which warms the air before it enters your nose. You should also keep your chest area well covered by clothing.
If your lung disease is the result of asbestos exposure at work, claiming compensation can help. It cannot reverse your condition. Yet, it can help you get treatment to stave it off as long as possible. It might even allow you to escape the Pennsylvania cold altogether and take your family somewhere warmer for the winter.