5 Conditions That Cold Weather Makes Worse — and How to Cope

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,” she adds.

A 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 that excessive humidity leads to mildew, mold, and dust mite excess,” Cymerman says.

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 — a condition that causes spasms in the small blood vessels in the hands and toes — they can be more severe.

“Raynaud’s is essentially an exaggerated vascular response to cold weather,” says Dr. Manuel Garcia-Smester, a rheumatologist 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 protective 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 [have a greater] tendency to have dry skin and eczema. In adults, you’ll definitely 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 lasting 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 that 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 regard 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.’"

Editor’s note: This story, first published Dec. 4, 2024, has been updated with new information.