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A MyCOPDTeam Member asked a question 💭
Northern Calif
June 12
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A MyCOPDTeam Member

Interesting. I live in a desert. The nearest city is Surprise, AZ. This morning I started to sneeze. Sinuses filled up, breathing not bad sitting, can’t say for walking?
Other than that, no real issues to mention. So far 😏

June 14
MyCOPDTeam

Hot weather can make breathing harder with COPD for a few key reasons. Heat and humidity together make the air feel heavier and thicker, which puts extra strain on already compromised lungs. Higher temperatures also tend to bring higher pollution levels and lower air quality scores, which can trigger flare-ups.

Here are Show Full Answer

Hot weather can make breathing harder with COPD for a few key reasons. Heat and humidity together make the air feel heavier and thicker, which puts extra strain on already compromised lungs. Higher temperatures also tend to bring higher pollution levels and lower air quality scores, which can trigger flare-ups.

Here are some practical tips to help manage breathing in hot weather:

- Check weather and air quality reports daily
- Stay indoors in an air-conditioned space on the hottest, most humid days
- If you must go outside, aim for cooler times like early morning or evening
- Limit physical activity to avoid overheating
- Drink plenty of water — it helps thin mucus and regulate body temperature

As one MyCOPDTeam member shared, high humidity is a big personal trigger, noting that when humidity goes over 70%, the air feels so thick and heavy that going outdoors becomes very difficult.

It's worth noting that a small number of people with COPD actually do better in humid conditions, so everyone's experience can be a little different.

June 12
A MyCOPDTeam Member

Hi @ rex76 I live in the desert too in Glendale and sometimes do have a hard time breathing in the summer because of the heat and that stupid pollen. So I do my inhaler or do my nebulizer for more breathing. I do look up the air quality for the area

June 14
A MyCOPDTeam Member

Heat, humidity, pollen, smoke...keeping up daily with what weather channel says the air quality for your area is essential

June 21

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