How can cold air affect your lungs?
Cold air can trigger coughing and make breathing feel more difficult, particularly for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions. Cold air is also usually dry, which can irritate sensitive airways and cause them to narrow.
This can lead to symptoms including coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Some people notice these symptoms almost immediately after going outside in cold weather or when exercising outdoors during winter.
Cold weather itself is not necessarily a sign that something is wrong with your lungs. However, if cold air repeatedly causes significant breathlessness, persistent coughing or wheezing, it may indicate an underlying respiratory condition that should be investigated.
Why does cold air make you cough?
Breathing in cold, dry air can irritate sensitive airways and trigger the cough reflex. This may explain why some people notice that they start coughing when they step outside in cold weather or that an existing cough becomes worse.
People with asthma and other conditions that make the airways more sensitive may be particularly susceptible to coughing in cold air.
Why Does Asthma Often Feel Worse in Cold Weather?
Cold air can irritate the airways and cause them to narrow, particularly in people with asthma. This may lead to increased coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or breathlessness during colder months.
Exercising outdoors in cold weather or breathing in cold, dry air can make symptoms more noticeable in some individuals. Viral infections, which are more common during winter, may also contribute to worsening asthma symptoms.
If breathing symptoms become more frequent or difficult to control during colder weather, it may be appropriate to seek medical advice.
iHow can you protect your lungs in cold weather?
f cold air tends to trigger coughing, wheezing or breathlessness, there are some simple steps that may help reduce symptoms.
When going outside
- Cover your nose and mouth: A scarf or face covering can help warm and humidify cold air before you breathe it in.
- Breathe through your nose where possible: Your nose helps warm and humidify incoming air before it reaches the lungs.
- Dress appropriately for the weather: Wearing several layers and keeping warm can make outdoor activity more comfortable.
- Take prescribed medication with you: If you use a reliever inhaler or other respiratory medication, follow the advice given by your healthcare professional.
- Be aware of your symptoms: If very cold or windy conditions consistently make your breathing significantly worse, consider limiting prolonged exposure.
Keeping your home warm and dry
Cold, damp homes can be particularly difficult for people with respiratory conditions. Aim to keep the rooms you use regularly comfortably warm and address problems with damp or mould where possible.
Mould can release spores into the air that may trigger respiratory symptoms, particularly in people with asthma or allergies. Persistent damp or visible mould should therefore be dealt with rather than simply covered or painted over.
Staying active during winter
Regular physical activity remains important during colder months. If cold weather makes outdoor exercise difficult, indoor activities can provide an alternative.
People with an existing respiratory condition should exercise within their abilities and follow any specific advice provided by their healthcare team.
Respiratory infections during winter
Respiratory infections are more common during the colder months and can make existing lung conditions worse. These include:
- Common colds
- Flu
- COVID-19
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
- Chest infections, including pneumonia
For people with asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis or other respiratory conditions, an infection may cause increased coughing, breathlessness, wheezing or mucus production.
Reducing your risk of respiratory infections
Simple measures can help reduce the risk of catching and spreading respiratory infections:
- Wash your hands regularly and practise good respiratory hygiene.
- Avoid close contact with people who are unwell where possible.
- Follow current NHS guidance on vaccinations recommended for you, such as flu and COVID-19 vaccination.
- If you have an existing respiratory condition, continue taking prescribed medication as advised.
If an infection causes significant difficulty breathing, symptoms that are becoming worse, or a noticeable deterioration in an existing lung condition, seek appropriate medical advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Breathing cold, dry air can irritate sensitive airways and trigger coughing. This may be particularly noticeable in people with asthma or other respiratory conditions.
It can. If your airways are already irritated or sensitive, breathing cold, dry air may trigger additional coughing. Covering your nose and mouth with a scarf when outside can help warm the air before you breathe it in.
Cold air can make some people feel more breathless because it may cause sensitive airways to narrow. This is particularly common in people with conditions such as asthma, although breathlessness can have many different causes.
Cold, dry air can irritate the airways, while respiratory infections such as colds and flu are also more common during winter. People also tend to spend more time indoors, where respiratory infections can spread more easily.
If cold weather regularly causes significant breathlessness, wheezing or persistent coughing, or your symptoms are becoming worse or affecting everyday activities, it is worth seeking medical advice. These symptoms may have an underlying cause that requires assessment.
Medical References
- Asthma + Lung UK – Cold weather and your lungs
This is the most directly relevant source. It supports the statements about cold, dry air irritating/narrowing the airways, worsening coughing, wheezing and breathlessness, respiratory infections, and measures such as breathing through the nose or covering the mouth and nose with a scarf.
Asthma + Lung UK – Cold weather and your lungs - UK Health Security Agency – Keeping warm and well: staying safe in cold weather
Supports the wider discussion of cold weather and respiratory health, increased winter infections, keeping warm and the greater risks for people with existing respiratory conditions. This guidance was updated in April 2026.
UKHSA – Keeping warm and well in cold weather - UK Government – Understanding and addressing the health risks of damp and mould in the home
This specifically supports the section we’ve retained about damp and mould affecting the airways and lungs and potentially worsening coughing, wheezing, breathlessness and asthma.
UK Government – Health risks of damp and mould
