5 Conditions that Cold Weather Makes Worse and How to Cope

Try these tips for preventing and managing pain and discomfort when temperatures plummet

Jackie Perrin,

AARP

Comments

En español

Published December 04, 2024

Getty Images

It's the season of twinkling lights, hot chocolate and good cheer, but this time of year ushers in another seasonal feature that's not nearly as widely appealing. For many older Americans, myself included, cold and windy weather can be a real pain — literally. As an active person with Raynaud's phenomenon living in a region with four distinct seasons, the advent of winter brings both delight and an awareness of my physical limits. As seasonal temperatures grow colder, managing the outdoor activities we typically enjoy in the Northeast — such as apple picking, hiking, and skiing — can be a struggle. Thankfully, years of experience and expert advice have helped me to comfortably embrace rather than dread upstate New York's chilliest seasons.

Here are tips from health care professionals on coping with five conditions common in people over 50 that are made worse by cold weather.

1. Dry eye disease

Why cold weather makes it worse: Cold and wind upset the makeup of tears, which are complex organisms that serve as a barrier and protect your eyes from the environment, explains Corina Busuioc, an optometrist with Duke Eye Clinic in Durham, North Carolina. There are three layers of tear film, and each layer serves a purpose in protecting the eye. "The minute one of these layers is compromised, because of many reasons, you can start being symptomatic," she says. Extreme temperatures — especially abrupt changes in temperature — throw off the balance and cause the tear film to destabilize. This results in evaporation, which leads to dry eye symptoms such as itching, burning, tearing and sensitivity to light, says Busuioc.

What to do: When venturing outdoors in cold, windy weather, wear wraparound sunglasses that work as a windshield. Busuioc says you can also find moisture chamber glasses or goggles online and take them to an optometrist for prescription fitting. If you know you will be in a windy, cold environment, carry a lubricant such as preservative-free artificial tears. "An eye doctor can definitely recommend something based on how they see that the tear behaves," Busuioc says.

2. Asthma

Why cold weather makes it worse: Cold weather dries your airways, which can be problematic for people with asthma, says Diane Cymerman, a physician specializing in allergy, asthma and immunology with Stony Brook Medicine in Stony Brook New York. "As the temperature drops, humidity drops with it in general, and that drying effect can act as an irritant to the patient's airways," she explains. Cymerman says that resulting spasms of the airways can trigger an asthma episode, symptoms of which typically include wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Allergens associated with the colder fall and winter seasons, such as ragweed, leaf pollens, and mold, can also worsen asthma symptoms, says Cymerman.

What to do: Short of moving to the Sun Belt, Cymerman says there are a couple of measures you can take to prevent cold weather-induced asthma attacks. Outdoors, use a mask to cover your mouth and nose. Any type of mask is helpful, however, the thicker the better, Cymerman says. Masks designed for runners, which warm and humidify the air, can be especially effective for people with asthma, she says. "It's more comfortable and less likely to cause a bronchospasm." Cymerman says lack of humidity in the winter is typically more troublesome than air conditioning in the summer for individuals with asthma. "We like to say that ideal humidity in a home should be greater than 20 percent and less than 50 percent. The reason why we don't want to over humidify is because excessive humidity leads to mildew, mold, and dust mite excess," says Cymerman. Dust mites are one of the major indoor triggers for people with asthma, according to the American Heart Association.

3. Raynaud's disease

Why cold weather makes it worse: Cold temperatures trigger vascular spasms, and in people with Raynaud's, they can be more severe. "Raynaud's is essentially exaggerated vascular response to cold weather,” says Manuel Garcia-Smester, senior fellow in rheumatology at Stony Brook Medicine in Stony Brook, New York. In cold weather, everyone naturally has some level of vasospasm — or shrinking of the blood vessels, but in patients with Raynaud’s the response is more exaggerated, says Garcia-Smester. According to the American College of Rheumatology, fingers and toes are the most frequently affected body parts, but Raynaud’s can also affect your nose, ears, and nipples. Cold-triggered symptoms can range from mild discomfort to more serious complications. "It can become painful and even cause some signs of digital ulceration [open sores] at the end of the fingertips in more severe disease," says Garcia-Smester.

What to do: Prevention is key for individuals with Raynaud's — whether the condition is primary (not linked with an underlying disease) or secondary (co-existing with another condition such as an autoimmune disease.) Keep your extremities warm when going outdoors, and choose outdoor gear wisely. "I recommend mittens over gloves," says Garcia-Smester. Consider using heat packs inside your gloves or boots, which Garcia-Smester says you can find at many drugstores and pharmacies. For more persistent and disruptive Raynaud's symptoms, Garcia-Smester says many doctors prescribe calcium channel blockers, which dilate the blood vessels.

4. Eczema

Why cold weather makes it worse: Dry skin tends to increase with cold weather, which can lead to skin irritations, says Cymerman. The natural aging process causes the skin to lose its preventative natural oils, leading to increased cold-weather-related skin irritation among older adults. "Eczema is a non-specific word meaning inflammation or irritation associated with dry skin. As we all age, we produce less oil and therefore more tendency to have dry skin and therefore, eczema. In adults, you'll definitely you'll see more eczema and skin irritations in the cold weather because their skin is drier," she says.

What to do: Apply skin moisturizing cream, which Cymerman says is the "gold standard" for eczema management. Look for a product containing ceramides, which are lipids that improve the skin barrier. Cymerman says it’s important to use moisturizer preventively — not just when you see a dry skin patch. Healthy bathing habits can also make a difference for people with eczema. Use a non-irritating soap or body wash and take lukewarm (not hot) showers that are 15 minutes or less to preserve natural body oils. "You don't want to overdo it. Some patients feel that if they take two showers a day, that's better than one shower a day, but that's definitely not recommended because that over-dries the skin," Cymerman says.

5. Arthritis

Why cold weather makes it worse: Cold weather can lead to increased symptoms in conditions where joint erosion is present, including osteoarthritis, a condition which affects around 10 percent of the U.S. population, and rheumatoid arthritis, a less common ailment that occurs in up to 1 percent of Americans, says Garcia-Smester. More than 53 million U.S. adults have arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and about 88 percent are age 45 and older. While medical studies show little correlation between cold weather and joint pain, patients often report a connection, says Garcia-Smester. "I tend to listen to my patient with regards to this as opposed to the study. My patients always say the pain is worse in cold weather," he says.

What to do: Stay warm, says Garcia-Smester. You might even be able to justify a sunny vacation for medicinal purposes. “We have plenty of patients who go south for the winters, and they say, "I feel much better when I do that."

%{postComment}%

Jackie Perrin is a contributing writer who has covered travel, lifestyle, health and business for some of the nation’s top consumer publications. Her work has appeared in Fodor’s, Gannett News, AAA and Tripadvisor.