Although we know well that Thailand is in a tropical zone, every summer we still don’t seem to get used to the heat. Did you know that… besides the heat making us feel uncomfortable, irritable, and greatly destroying the joy of life, it also negatively affects our health? For example, it increases the risk of fatigue, exhaustion, fainting which can lead to accidents, and importantly, it directly impacts the lung health of the general population, especially those who already have lung diseases and the elderly. Therefore, we should be extra cautious because extreme heat can easily trigger lung disease symptoms, which can be dangerous to health.
How is hot weather related to lung health?
Actually, hot weather does not only affect lung health but impacts the functioning of all organs in the human body. When the weather gets hotter, the body works harder, losing more water, sweat, and minerals, causing the lungs, heart, skin, and blood pressure to become more alert. We breathe faster and our heart beats faster than in other seasons. The consequence is that the body tires easily, gets exhausted quickly, and feels the need to rest frequently. If you drink less water and eat insufficiently, your body will become more easily fatigued than usual.
Another important reason why summer weakens our body is because the daytime is longer than usual, with earlier daylight and later darkness. This shortens our sleep and rest time, and insufficient rest leads to body weakness.
However, if we delve deeper into the direct impact of hot weather on lung health, it is that it makes all types of lung diseases more prone to flare-ups. People with lung diseases dislike heavy and rapid breathing because their lungs have to work harder than normal. The lungs of patients are like old air conditioners that have to work much harder in the heat, causing more severe damage to their parts. Therefore, people with lung diseases or the elderly, whose lung condition is not as robust as young or healthy people, are at higher risk of danger because their lungs have to work harder due to excessive heat.
Which lung disease patients? Are at risk of flare-ups during extreme heat
The groups of lung disease patients who should monitor their symptoms and take good care of themselves during summer or hot weather include:
1. Obstructive airway disease group
Asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis belong to the same group of obstructive airway diseases. Normally, when we breathe in, the airways expand, and when we breathe out, they contract. People with obstructive airway diseases have more airway contraction than normal, making it difficult to breathe out and causing air to be trapped inside the lungs. Therefore, the hotter the weather makes us breathe faster, the more dangerous it is because it accelerates patients to breathe in a lot but cannot breathe out, risking life-threatening situations from rapid breathing leading to breathlessness.
2. Pulmonary fibrosis group
Patients in this group have lungs that are not fully functional due to fibrosis interference. Their lungs may only work at 50-60% capacity. Fundamentally, these patients already breathe faster than normal people. When exposed to hotter weather, they breathe even faster, making the disease more prone to flare-ups. Importantly, rapid breathing stimulates the release of more inflammatory substances in the lungs, further aggravating the disease like pouring oil on a fire. The patients’ lungs deteriorate faster and more severely, which can be dangerous.
3. Allergy group
Bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis can flare up and worsen in extreme heat. Symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, and headache, making patients more easily weakened. Even if the disease itself does not cause danger, the weakened body may lead to accidents.
How to take care of yourself? Keep your lungs safe from hot weather
Hot weather is unavoidable because it is seasonal, but we can take care of ourselves and our close ones, especially the elderly and lung disease patients, to stay safe from the heat by following these guidelines.
1. Plan daily routines to avoid the heat
For those who need to go out for work or activities such as shopping or errands during summer, especially the elderly, it is important to schedule outings carefully. Avoid the hottest times, which in Thailand start from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM or even 5:00 PM on some days. If possible, plan to finish errands before 8 AM and resume after 5 PM to avoid exposure to heat that may trigger lung disease flare-ups and cause dangerous fatigue.
2. Use air conditioning or fans when indoors
Although it may seem costly, to protect health, rooms where elderly or lung disease patients stay should have air conditioning or fans on, especially during the hottest hours from 11 AM to about 3 PM. The room temperature should be kept cool to counter the heat. If there is no air conditioning, fans can be used along with open windows to improve ventilation and reduce indoor heat.
3. Drink enough water
Hot weather causes easy dehydration, so it is necessary to drink enough water, at least 1.5-2 liters. For patients with doctor-imposed fluid restrictions, consult your doctor on how much you can drink and try to drink as much as allowed.
4. Use a cold cloth to reduce body temperature
This is one of the often overlooked but very effective methods. If feeling very hot, patients and the elderly should use a cold cloth or ice to wipe the face and neck to relieve heat. The face and neck are the areas where heat is most felt and cooling them helps reduce fatigue significantly.
5. Wear appropriate clothing
At home, wear light and short clothing for both men and women to feel most comfortable. This helps relieve heat and prevents discomfort. Although a small detail often ignored, it greatly helps dissipate heat and reduces the risk of heat accumulation.
6. Avoid activities that cause sweating
Especially for the elderly and lung disease patients, avoid heavy work or activities that cause sweating and increase body heat, such as housework, tidying up, mowing the lawn, or cleaning. If unavoidable, spread out tasks and do not overexert by completing everything in one day.
7. Prepare medication and emergency readiness
Lung disease patients should always check that they have enough medication, especially emergency drugs, during summer as unexpected events can happen anytime, especially at night. Additionally, both patients and the elderly should prepare for emergencies by knowing what to do, whom to notify, and which hospital to go to for timely treatment. It is best to have emergency phone numbers of hospitals or close contacts clearly visible and easily accessible for patients and the elderly to use immediately when needed.
During summer, healthy or young people are less at risk of lung health damage from heat because their bodies can naturally adjust well. However, the elderly and lung disease patients are the opposite because their body and lung conditions have deteriorated significantly, increasing their risk of heat-related dangers more than usual. Therefore, we must pay special attention to ourselves and our close relatives, lung disease patients, and elderly family members. We need to be vigilant and watchful to ensure their safety.
If you notice symptoms such as fatigue, exhaustion, difficulty breathing, or any abnormalities, do not ignore them. Seek medical consultation promptly for diagnosis and treatment planning to ensure the safest care possible.
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Dr. Winai Boveja
Head of Lung Health Center
Specialist in Respiratory Medicine
and Respiratory Critical Care
For more information, contact
Internal Medicine Clinic
Phyathai 3 Hospital, 1st Floor
Tel. 02-467-1111 ext. 3185-3186, 3133