Dr. Greene`s Answer:
Breathing cold air can trigger nasal congestion and even wheezing. Sometimes this is a purely physical effect and happens in two ways.
Mucus Transport
First, cold air affects an important defense mechanism called mucus transport. The entire respiratory system is coated with a very thin mucus blanket.
Cold air stimulates an increase in mucus production. In addition, mucus (like other substances) becomes thicker in colder temperatures.
Nose Tissue
The second area where cold air physically affects respiratory health is in the nose tissue itself. The hardy nose is a remarkable organ designed to condition inhaled air to protect the delicate internal structures.
When breathing through the nose, you may breathe in air at 40 or 100 degrees Fahrenheit, but within a quarter of a second, the air temperature is quickly brought to 98.6 degrees. Many tiny blood vessels, known as capillaries, bring about this temperature exchange.
When a person breathes cold air, the tissues lining the nose swell as the capillaries dilate, bringing warm blood to heat the cool air. Swollen capillaries in the nose are the cause of nasal congestion (nasal congestion is backed-up blood, not increased mucus).
In addition to the congestion, the mucus in the nose, as we’ve said, increases and becomes thicker. This happens more in some people than in others. Thus cold air, by itself, can produce both nasal congestion and stuffiness. These can be treated with decongestants and/or antihistamines.
Sometimes the runny nose, congestion, and/or wheezing are a true allergic response to cold temperatures. If this is the case, preventive medicines such as cromolyn (Nasalcrom) or fluticasone (Flonase) can work well for the nose, and cromolyn (Intal), nedocromil (Tilade), fluticasone (Flovent) or the like, can work well to prevent wheezing.
A variety of natural remedies have also been proven to help prevent these types of allergies, including quercetin/vitamin C, stinging nettle, saline nose drops, saline eye drops, and a nightly massage.
Photo credit: Toa Heftiba
Beverly Shea
Hi I have a sinus infection ,should I stay inside and not go ski dooing ,or is it ok to go ski doo with a helmet on pleas help
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Alexandra Carmichael
Hi Beverly,
Thanks so much for writing! I’m sorry to hear about your sinus infection. Here is an article that Dr. Greene has written about sinus infections – https://www.drgreene.com/articles/sinusitis/
My instinct would be to stay home and rest and let your body heal, but your instinct may be different.
Hope that helps!
Alexandra (caring helper at DrGreene.com, not a doctor)
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Rajendra
Hello sir my nose blocks in winter I have to use otrivin drop 3-4 times a day please suggest some remedy for this
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Akkala Rajesh
Hello. Good evening. Sir I’m a deaf and I’m Akkala Rajesh. I would like ask to you that but I have a cold with my problem.
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Nancy leone
I live in south Florida. Whenever I am in air conditioning, which is most of the time, I suffer from nasal congestion and swelling. What can I do for this?
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John ward
Dr, I had a sleep apnea stay over night and my dr. Really never explained any thing about it , and that day sent me to another office in same building and when I came back to her office I had both nostrils layered than sent home, this was about 10 years ago, since then I have the WORST HEADACHES, looking in my nose it looks wet and blood red, never had asthma but now for last 7 or 8 yrs I’ve been to Dr’s about sinus infection, eyeballs that hurt constantly worse than migraines, any air slow so fast can be felt a goes straight to the eyes, mostl right eye but both the majority of time, I’m miserable, the back of the eyes HURT BUT I GUESS. THESE Dr’s don’t get it, they all take my moneys and I’m STILL MISERABLE. THE CLINCHER, is besides sending me to all kinds of specialist that know nothing and give me a different spill every time, I have explained the procedure that started ALL this the ” Lazer Assisted uvulopalatatatopasty” and how it has affected me and my nose and sinuses and the backs of my eyes, and they blantantly denigh and tell me I never had that done ( ALL OF THE DR’S STICK TO THE SAME STORY, one specialist told me they don’t do that procedure in the clinic it was done in, so I’M mistaken. BULL
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE AS WHAT TO DO ? Why are they lying??
I’m retired AF Civillian and they have record of ALL medical procedures I’ve had done with time off. I want my eyes to not hurt but I will not go to these liying Dr’s. I want to know why their liying, did they mess up procedure? If so why lye just fix it Do they teach diseption in Medical School? Thinking of getting a lawyer to get answers, not money. I’ve so much pain I’m angry all the time and I’m not sleeping good. Thanks Dr for your time, if you can send me some advice. Thanks. Effects vision also
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Cheryl Greene
What a tough, tough situation.
Your medical records “should” belong to you. You “should” be able to get them, take them to a reputable third party and get an answer, but … it is often difficult to get older records and even if you do get them, I’m sorry to say, they may not provide the full story.
In my opinion, you are better off spending your energy trying to get help now. What are your options? Perhaps try going to doctors in a whole different system. If you’re in the US now, try finding a teaching hospital and going to an ENT there. Or consider going outside the system to a naturopathic doctor. They are trained to look at whole systems and lean to more natural treatments.
How very, very hard. I wish I had more to offer.
My best to you,
@MsGreene
Co-founder DrGreene.com, but not a doctor
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maxine hillary
Dear Dr. Greene:
Your article on runny/stuffy noses in cold weather is the only thing I’ve read so far that has even approached what for me are much more than mere stuffy noses. When it’s going to rain or snow in colder weather or if I’m out too long in very cold weather, my allergies go off the charts. I’ve been known to go through a whole box of tissues within a few hours–it’s as if someone opened a fire hydrant. I can tell without even checking the weather if there is going to be snow or cold rain. Oddly enough, while not a true celiac, I break out in hives around my neck and get bloated if I eat more than just a little wheat, oats, or barley. My doctor has prescribed the exact antihistamines and steroid nose sprays you mentioned, but I’m wondering if there are many people out there who have such severe cold weather allergies and if my wheat sensitivity is related.
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Aindri
Dear Maxine,
This is interesting…. and for me too, the only article I have read that fits my case.. I don’t have nearly such exaggerated responses to cold and gluten as you, but certainly along the same lines…. in the summer, or in India, UAE, northern Australia I have no trouble with nasal congestion…. but in Europe, USA, as soon as it gets cold….I have mild to serious congestion…. made worse and accompanied by hives… if I eat very much hard cheese, chocolate, hung yoghurt etc. ( I am a vegetarian.. not vegan… strict organic food/nonGMO). What helps is nasal saline rinse, Ayurvedic nose drops/nasya, [ Maharishi Ayurveda # 634 ] and I suspect, that like my father, I have a tendency to low blood pressure, and anything that tends to increase it a little helps….e.g. Rosemany essential oils.
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Cheryl Greene
Aindri,
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I suspect you’ve found what many people are looking for — specific triggers for YOU and treatments that work for your specific triggers. The more each of us learn about our own bodies, the more we’ll be able to avoid the things that impact us and treat the things we can’t avoid.
Best,
@MsGreene
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