From reduced amounts of vitamin D to increased time spent shoveling, the winter months can wreak havoc on your heart and lung health. Whether you struggle with issues like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertensive heart disease, or asthma, it’s important to protect your heart and lung health during the cold weather season.

At Wolcott View Manor Health & Rehabilitation Center, the best nursing and rehabilitation program in Connecticut, the team at the Heart & Lung Center is committed to keeping patients strong and healthy throughout every season. In addition helping patients manage acute and chronic heart and lung conditions, the team of physician specialists, rehab and respiratory therapists, and nurses encourage people to take extra precaution during the winter months.

Here are three heart and lung health tips from the experts at Wolcott View Manor Health & Rehabilitation Center.

3 Heart & Lung Health Care Tips for Winter

1. Bundle Up

When the temperature starts to drop, the cold air can have a big impact on how easily you breathe and how properly your vital organs work. For people with heart or lung disease or COPD, it’s especially important to wear layers — hats, gloves, scarves, heavy socks — even if you don’t really feel too cold.

2. Avoid Alcohol

There’s nothing better than warming up next to the fire with a hot toddy, but consider switching to hot chocolate. Excessive alcohol warms the body right up, but if you feel warmer than you really are, you might put yourself in danger of hypothermia the next time you step outside. To protect your heart and lung health, stick with water through the winter.

3. Monitor Your Chest Pain

Yes, the shoveling needs to get done, but maybe you should hire the kid next door instead. If you do want to participate in an activity outside, make sure you warm yourself up first. Slowly start to bring up your heart rate, and then you can gear up for more intense activities. Always stay aware of how you’re feeling, and if you start to feel chest pain, come inside and give yourself a break.

If you are concerned about your heart and lung health, schedule an appointment at a health center to talk with professionals about more tips to manage your health in the cold. The rehabilitation team with the Heart & Lung Center at Wolcott View Manor Health & Rehabilitation Center will help patients with everything from pneumonia and asthma to chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

For more information about the best rehabilitation program in Connecticut, visit the Wolcott View Manor Health & Rehabilitation Center website or call (203) 879-8066 today. You can also connect with them on Facebook.