LA CROSSE, Wi. — Another winter storm is bearing down on the upper Midwest, with winter storm warnings out for portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. The National Weather Service is calling for heavy snow and gusty winds. Following the snow, the first extreme cold temperatures of the season will arrive, with lows dipping well below zero (Fahrenheit) and forecast highs on Sunday and Monday staying in negative territory.
From frostbite to hypothermia, when temperatures get that cold, it can be dangerous. The cold also can affect your lungs.
Can freezing temperatures freeze your lungs?
“Our body does its best to keep our core temperature about 37 degrees(celsius), and our lungs are encased
within our thoracic cavity. Unless your whole body is at risk, freezing your lungs should not be at risk,” says Dr. Aryan Shiari, a pulmonologist with Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse.
He says the cold dry air can enter your lungs and cause irritation, leading to bronchospasm that could cause that tightening sensation of the chest. Your lungs themselves will unlikely freeze.
You may experience discomfort or even a burning sensation from breathing in those bitter cold temperatures. That’s common.
“Our bodies are very well designed to adapt to cold air coming in. There are many mechanisms that allow for warming and humidification of the air before it actually hits your lungs where a gas exchange happens,” explains Dr. Shiari. “What happens is that cold air is generally drier, and your body works to humidify this. In that process, it can cause irritation to the airways, which results in a process called bronchospasm, where those airways narrow and tighten, and you get that feeling of shortness of breath.”
People with chronic lung disease:
The extreme cold air can be dangerous for anyone, but for those with chronic lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the cold can make things feel worse. With emphysema, for instance, the cold air can cause spasms of the bronchial passage, making it more difficult to breathe.
“Patients with respiratory disease, whether that’s asthma, COPD or other lung diseases, are more prone to have exacerbations of their symptoms if facing cold winter conditions. The best thing that they can do in order to protect themselves is to be prepared. Whether that’s having an extra supply of their inhaler regiment for a few days in case of an emergency or having an emergency generator for their medical equipment, such as ventilators, CPAP machines or oxygen concentrators,” says Dr. Shiari.
Tips to breathe safely:
Dr. Shiari says you should try to avoid being outside during a winter storm. He says if you do have to be outside, follow this breathing advice.
“If you’re going to breathe in, generally breathing in through your nose and exhaling through your mouth is better,” he says. “Your nose does a better job at humidifying and warming the air than your mouth. Having a scarf to wrap around your nose and mouth, or a ski mask, while outdoors can help, as it can trap some of that heat and moisture.”
And try to avoid exercising outside in the cold weather if you suffer from asthma, COPD or chronic lung conditions.
Frostbite
Frostbite is an injury caused by freezing of the skin and underlying tissues. First, your skin becomes very cold and red, then numb, hard and pale. Frostbite is most common on the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin. Exposed skin in cold, windy weather is most vulnerable to frostbite. But frostbite can occur on skin covered by gloves or other clothing.
“We tend to see frostbite, for example, when the temperature is 5 degrees Fahrenheit with minimal windchill. If the windchill drops below negative 15 degrees Fahrenheit, which is not unheard of in the northern half of the U.S., frostbite can set in within half an hour,” says Sanj Kakar M.D., a Mayo Clinic orthopedic hand and wrist surgeon. “Initially, the milder forms, you can get some pain and some numbness of the tips, but the skin can change its color. It can be red. It can be white. Or it can be blue. And you can get these blisters on your hands. And it can be a very serious injury.”
Signs and symptoms of frostbite include:
- At first, cold skin and a prickling feeling
- Numbness
- Red, white, bluish-white or grayish-yellow skin
- Hard or waxy-looking skin
- Clumsiness due to joint and muscle stiffness
- Blistering after rewarming, in severe cases
But frostbite isn’t the only danger that can happen in the bitter cold. If you are exposed too long to the cold, you may experience a more serious condition called hypothermia.
“Certain patients with diabetes, patients who have previous history of frostbite are prone to it, the elderly or your very young children, and also, for example, if you’re dehydrated,” says Dr. Kakar.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing a dangerously low body temperature. When your body temperature drops, your heart, nervous system and other organs can’t work normally. Left untreated, hypothermia eventually can lead to complete heart and respiratory system failure, and eventually death.
Signs and symptoms of hypothermia include:
- Shivering
- Exhaustion
- Confusion
- Fumbling hands
- Memory loss
- Slurred speech
- Drowsiness
Call 911 if you suspect someone has hypothermia. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. While you wait for medical help to arrive, gently move the person inside or into a warm room or shelter. Carefully remove wet clothing and replace with dry, warm blankets or coats.
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