Coughs and Cold Air

As autumn leaves fall and the central heating clicks back on, October introduces a predictable shift in the pattern of presentations to a GP surgery. Particularly for those with asthma and chronic lung conditions, the cooling climate heralds a rise in respiratory complaints.

To understand why October catches our lungs out, we must look at how delicate airways interact with a changing environment. It boils down to two primary aggravators: temperature and indoor allergens.

Cold, dry autumn air acts as a direct physical irritant. When inhaled quickly, it can cause the smooth muscle surrounding the airways to spasm and constrict, causing sudden wheezing. Simultaneously, as we retreat indoors and seal our windows, we trap ourselves with elevated levels of house dust mites and damp mould spores. For an over-reactive immune system, these are classic triggers for airway inflammation.

Fortunately, navigating this seasonal transition requires preparation rather than complex intervention.

On frosty mornings, simply wearing a loose scarf over your nose and mouth acts as a rudimentary heat exchanger, warming and humidifying the air before it reaches the lungs. Indoors, managing moisture is important. Avoid drying laundry on radiators, if possible, to curb mould proliferation. And remember that pandemic-era concept of Stoßlüften? Opening your windows wide for just five minutes each morning rapidly evacuates humid, stale air and mould spores without significantly cooling the fabric of your home.

Most importantly, autumn requires pharmacological consistency. If you use a daily preventer inhaler, it must be taken exactly as prescribed, even when you feel completely well. These low-dose steroid medications work subtly over weeks to suppress underlying tissue inflammation, building a vital protective blanket. By contrast, the old blue reliever inhalers are merely an emergency fire extinguisher for acute spasms.

For those with asthma, if despite the above you regularly reach for an inhaler to relieve symptoms or a cough often wakes you, then do book in with a practice nurse to review your treatment.

Published: Oct 1, 2026