Tips for Lung Patients to Keep Up Workouts in Winter

Experts advise adaptations to stay active despite cold, dry air that can worsen breathing issues

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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With frigid winter weather making outdoor exercise difficult, a Temple Health pulmonologist offers advice for people with chronic lung disorders like asthma and COPD to maintain their fitness routines. Recommendations include wearing a scarf or mask to warm inhaled air, warming up for 5-10 minutes, starting at a lower intensity, and using rescue inhalers before exercising to prevent symptoms.

Why it matters

Staying active is crucial for lung patients to maintain their lung function, but the cold, dry winter air can exacerbate breathing issues and lead to a downward cycle of decreased exercise capacity. Adapting workouts can help prevent this decline.

The details

Dr. Omid Pourshahid, a pulmonologist at Temple Health, says many lung patients try to cut back on outdoor exercise in the winter due to the discomfort of inhaling cold, dry air, which can cause further airway narrowing and irritation. However, he cautions that becoming more sedentary can lead to a loss of exercise capacity that may be difficult to regain. To combat this, Dr. Pourshahid recommends wearing a scarf or mask to warm the air, warming up for 5-10 minutes, starting at a lower intensity for the first 10-15 minutes, and using rescue inhalers before exercising to prevent exercise-induced asthma symptoms.

  • The frigid winter weather has made outdoor exercise difficult.

The players

Dr. Omid Pourshahid

A pulmonologist at Temple Health who provides advice for lung patients on maintaining their exercise routines in the winter.

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What they’re saying

“If they're inhaling cold and dry air, that is gonna cause some further narrowing and further irritation.”

— Dr. Omid Pourshahid, Pulmonologist, Temple Health (6abc.com)

“If they start to gradually become more sedentary, the more they don't use it, the more they lose their capacity to exercise.”

— Dr. Omid Pourshahid, Pulmonologist, Temple Health (6abc.com)

“They need to be short of breath enough that they can still talk, but they have to basically break down the sentence in a few shorter parts.”

— Dr. Omid Pourshahid, Pulmonologist, Temple Health (6abc.com)

What’s next

Patients should consult their pulmonologist for personalized guidance on adapting their exercise routines for the winter months.

The takeaway

Maintaining physical activity is crucial for lung patients, even in the winter when cold, dry air can exacerbate breathing issues. With some simple adaptations like warming up longer, starting at a lower intensity, and using rescue inhalers, lung patients can keep up their workouts and preserve their exercise capacity throughout the colder months.