[Click! Health] Scorching Heat by Day, Chilly Nights in the Changing Season... How to Prevent the Unwelcome 'Respiratory Diseases'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Although autumn has arrived, unseasonal heatwave warnings are still being issued, with hot daytime temperatures and chilly nights causing large temperature fluctuations. During this transitional season, the body's balance is easily disrupted, and significant temperature differences can lead to illnesses before the body has time to build up its defenses. Caution is necessary because a weakened immune system can invite various respiratory diseases.

Humans are warm-blooded animals that need to maintain a constant body temperature. During the transitional season, when the daily temperature difference exceeds 10℃, the body undergoes various changes to adapt to these fluctuations. Starting with the autonomic nervous system, muscles, blood vessels, and even the skin expend more energy than usual, which reduces the energy available for immune cells.

Especially in autumn, the air becomes dry, making the bronchial tubes responsible for breathing easily irritated. The respiratory mucous membranes weaken more than usual, making them vulnerable to various infections. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, major transitional season illnesses such as colds, rhinitis, and pharyngitis hit their lowest point in August, at the end of summer, but surged sharply from September. For colds, the number of patients was lowest in August at 170,000 but rose by about 100,000 to 270,000 in September. Rhinitis patients also doubled from 490,000 in August to 980,000 in September.

Allergic rhinitis, triggered by external stimuli such as sudden temperature changes, easily occurs when the respiratory tract becomes sensitive due to large temperature differences. Typical symptoms include nasal congestion, sneezing, and clear nasal discharge, along with itchy eyes and nose. Symptoms tend to appear and disappear repeatedly, making it easy to overlook, but if it becomes chronic, it is a distressing condition.

Pharyngitis is also a respiratory disease that signals the arrival of autumn. When immunity drops, bacteria or viruses invade, causing inflammation in the pharynx and larynx. It is often mistaken for a cold, and if treatment is delayed, it can worsen and lead to complications such as acute otitis media or pneumonia, so caution is necessary.

There are various ways to protect the body from these respiratory diseases. First, to prevent the respiratory mucous membranes and cellular activity from deteriorating in dry weather, it is important to replenish more fluids than usual. Drinking water frequently helps improve body fluid circulation and boosts immunity. As the air becomes colder and stagnant in autumn, fine dust increases, so paying attention to ventilation and indoor cleaning, as well as washing hands and feet thoroughly after going outside, are effective ways to prevent respiratory diseases.

Seo Won-na, head of the Respiratory Medicine Department at Incheon Himchan Hospital, said, “During the autumn transitional season, boosting immunity should come first,” adding, “Adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, and appropriate exercise help strengthen the body's immune system.” If body temperature regulation is inadequate due to lack of exercise and nutritional loss, immunity weakens, making it easier to contract various diseases. On days with large temperature changes between morning and evening, muscle and joint flexibility decreases, and the activity of enzymes involved in energy metabolism drops, which can reduce exercise capacity. Therefore, sufficient warm-up exercises before starting physical activity are necessary.

Exercise clothing is also key to protecting body temperature. Clothes worn directly on the skin should be made of cotton, which absorbs sweat well. Outerwear should effectively block wind and heat loss. If you feel hot during exercise and remove your outer layer, you should put it back on immediately after finishing to prevent a drop in body temperature. On days with large temperature differences, it is important to adjust clothing appropriately during exercise to avoid excessive sweating. Above all, overly intense exercise should be avoided. If exercise acts as a stressor, the body releases stress hormones and generates reactive oxygen species, negatively affecting immune function. Therefore, maintaining a balanced and moderate exercise routine is crucial.