Effects of humidity on people with CF

[VOOGIE]

Hi everyone,

I have a 6 year old daughter who has CF. Despite having had many infections requiring much IV antibiotic treatment during the past five years, she has good lung function, and is very active.

We as a family have been given the opportunity to relocate to the Abu Dhabi in the Middle East, which is an extremely hot country, and has virtually no rainfall (very different from damp old England). However I have now spentot a couple of weeks in the in Abu Dhabi, and I have come to realise that although it is extremely hot, it is is also very humid all the time.

The first question that I have, if anyone can offer any advice, is how will this climate affect my daughter, would it be beneficial to her, or is it in fact a risk, and potentially damageing to the lungs?

Thanks guys
God bless you all and your families always.
Greg

 

[forsaxon]

Hi Greg, I am glad you have asked that question. I was under the impression that hot humid climate was good, however you need to watch she doesn't dehydrate & you need to keep her salt intake up. We have recently moved from Sydney to Noosa - Queensland & they have very hot humid summers, however we haven't experienced it yet with bubs. I am very interested to know what others say.

In Health
Donna (mum of aby boy 4mths w/cf & daughter 3 1/2yrs wo/cf)
P.S. Thanks for your message to my question about pseudomanas <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

Thanks Donna,

Hope all goes well.

God bless you and keep your little ones safe.

Greg.

 

[PreciousJewel]

Greg,
i have spoken to my doctor about this...and he said the same ..its the fact that they can lose a lot of salt through the heat.....

 

[anonymous]

Thanks Paula,

Yes my daughter's paediatrician has mentioned this to us before when the weather is hot at home, but at least that is something that can be kept under control will the salt replacement drinks, which apparently anyone will readily drink if their body has lost excessive amounts.

Take care, and God bless you, little Ruby and Joseph.
Greg.

 

[julie]

Humidity really makes my husbands lung infections bloom-or else it's a huge conincidence. My husband loves places like Nevada and certain places in Arizona because they are hot but VERY DRY and that seems to keep the moisture out of his lungs and feeling much better. We've been in very humid/hot places and very dry/hot places and my husband seems to do signifigantly better in the latter location.

 

[anonymous]

I grew up in Michigan and always had a very difficult time in the summers when it was hot and humid. I moved to Arizona when I was about 25, and I do much much better here in the hot, but usually dry weather. In August, when it gets hot and humid, I have a much harder time. I rarely go outside - just go from air-conditioned house to air-conditioned car to air-conditioned office. If I have to be outside for any length of time, I get very miserable. Is there a way you can visit with your child to see how it goes before moving permanently? I can't imagine living in this hot, humid weather for more than a month.

Debi, 53 w/CF

 

[seasprite]

Dear Greg,

I would agree with Julie and Debi. I kept a record of Jordan's cough level for quite a while when he was little (he's now 16), and he pretty consistently has more trouble when it's hot and humid. Jordan's cf doctor confimed that he had to admit more cf patients to the hospital in July than in January. Also, I believe that cf survival rates are lowest in the southeast US, although factors other than the weather probably contribute to the differences. Still, there are two problems with heat and humidity that we know are not good for people with cf. First, few feel much like exercising under those conditions, and we know that vigorous exercise is one of the most important things our kids can do to protect their health. Also, molds love hot, wet conditions, and with all the antibiotics our kids take, they are more susceptible to mold infections. And if problems do develop, would you have access to the most up-to-date cf care in Abu Dhabi?

Best of luck with your decision.

Bambi

 

[Emily65Roses]

I live in Connecticut. I get pretty hot summers and pretty damn cold winters. I prefer winter anytime. It's a little harder to breathe sometimes when it's really bitter cold... but you can always go inside. Everywhere has heat in the winter. Not everywhere has AC in the summer. Also, the heat and humidity in the summer nearly knock me off my feet every year. This seems to be the case especially as time goes by, and my lungs get worse. The heat tends to tire us out faster. I went to Disney recently with my Mike's family, and I think if it had been fall, I wouldn't have had much of a problem. Maybe sore feet, but nothing that no one else didn't have. But because we went in June and it was both hot and humid, I was in a wheelchair all week. Not a big deal, but a big enough difference to notice. I'm not you, I've never been to Abu Dhabi, and it's not my decision... but as someone who is very much not-involved, I wouldn't suggest it.

I also agree with what Bambi asked in whether or not Abu Dhabi would have the same medical centers and treatment that the US or UK has. My first instinct would tell me no. But who knows. Something to look into if you're willing to go despite the heat and humidity. Oh and as a final side note to something Bambi said... the last few years I've gone on IVs about twice a year. And somehow, the last two years has been only during the summer. Last summer I went on them in June *and* August. This year so far, it's been June and probably again in August (I have an appointment on the 16th) given how I feel again now. So I'd say summers probably aren't the best thing for us.

 

[ReneeP]

Hi Greg,

I have two daughers with CF. We lived in a very cold climate in Minnesota for the last 4 years and then in December we moved to south TX. It is very hot and very humid. (Probably not as hot as where you are thinking of going but our high is almost always over 100 currently so it's pretty hot). I was very excited to move and really wanted this to work out. I talked to the drs, came on here and asked for advice, etc... I really thought it through. We made the decision to move (I must admit, against something in the back of my mind telling me it was not the right thing to do). We have now been here for 7 months and it was a huge mistake. I am counting the days until we can move back up north. It was a very expensive move so we are stuck for a while. My younger daughter, 6 years old, had never had sinus problems before and is now going to have surgery within the next couple of weeks. The sinus problems started almost as soon as we moved. My older daughter developed a cough she had never had before. It has been better since the school year ended so we are thinking something in the school is causing the problem. As someone mentioned before, in hot, humid climates, mold grows rampid and I think the schools have mold issues. It sounds like a once in a lifetime opportunity and under normal circumstances, I'd say it would be a wonderful opportunity. I also know we don't want to limit our children's experiences because of the CF. At the same time, unfortunately, some decisions have to be make around CF. It's just the way it is. (thou I'd never put it to the child that way....she doesn't need to know it was because of her that you didn't move)... Either way, I wish you the best. It's such a hard decision. We want to give our children opportunities to experience everything life has to offer but sometimes we put them at risk by doing so. I feel that is what I did and I am really suffering guilt because of my decision. Whatever you decide, the best to you and your family. The most important thing is that she has parents who love her and take care of her and are considering her needs. She's a lucky girl to have that and that will be what gets her through either way.

Renee

 

[anonymous]

Our experience has been this: hot & humid is good (actually helps bring up more secretions), but wet/rainy & humid is bad (seems to cause airway constriction). Good luck!

 

[miesl]

I have to side with the 'hot and humid is bad' opinion.

It's hard on my asthma. It makes it harder for me to breathe - like I'm suffocating all the time. That's when I'm NOT exercising. If I do that - it's just pure misery.

Jeremy's bothered by the heat and humidity as well, to the point where we put a room air conditioner in our bedroom (there's one in the house, but no central air).

So - that's my two cents.

 

[SeasonsOfLove]

I think an important determining factor would be if your home there would have A/C, her school, etc.

Coll does very poorly in wet, humid weather. During the summer however, going out in hot, humid weather TEMPORARILY seems to help her. But we need the AC on at home since our house is surrounded by tons of trees.

Best of luck in your decision!

 

[julie]

Also, hot and humid = mositure. moisture for a long period of time can lead to more growth in the lungs... more infections..... at least that was the case for my hubbie as I mentioned above.

Just wanted to mention that,
Julie

 

[anonymous]

i live in New Orleans, LA and it is hot and humid with weather being in the 90s everyday now and let me tell ya it is hard on the lungs

 

[CFHockeyMom]

Sean struggles with humidity/dampness. Spring and Fall are especially hard on him and if we have a humid summer it's tough on him too. We live in Michigan so summers vary but we can always count on dampness in the Spring and Fall. This summer has been particularly humid and as such, Sean's been coughing up a storm and his PFT's are down; no surprise he's on antibiotics right now.

We visit AZ once or twice a year and he seems to do much better there.

 

[forsaxon]

OK, so now I'm reading this freaking out! We thought & our doctor didn't tell us any differently that moving from Sydney & pollution etc to Noosa no air pollution, 5 mins from beach with very very hot, humid & wet summers (very tropical climate) would be the best thing for our baby. And you guys who I would trust rather than a doctor (since you are living with this everyday) are telling me different! This is really scary people! Surely it would help being near the ocean?
<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif" border="0">

In health
Donna (mum of baby boy 4mths w/cf daughter 3 1/2yrs wo/cf)

 

[anonymous]

Hello again everyone,

Thankyou very much all of you for the overwhelming response, and for your sincere advice, and relaying of personal experiences, it is all very much appreciated. I think it seems that there are a lot of very different experiences, and many of the points that have been raised are questions that I had in my mind.

At this point in time I still can't decide wether this climate is a positive, a negative or a neutral thing for Harriet, my thoughts and gut feelings are torn at the moment, but I am feeling myself being pulled more towards the negative. I don't want to do anything that could put my little girl at risk, the reason for considering this move is to try to build a better future for her, and if the benefits would have to far outweigh the risks in order for me to make this move. I'm actually out in Abu Dhabi by myself at this point in time, and the temperature today is about 45 degrees centigrade, and the humidity factor is extremely high, I am stopping in the centre of Abu Dhabi at the moment, which is very built up,with lots of traffic, which I know would be out of the question, but I've yet to go further out and check out the less built up residential areas. All of the buildings are air conditioned out here, and after talking to a number of people, the general opinion is that the medical care out here is of a very high standard, but from past experience with various doctors, a generally good doctor is not necessarily particularly good or knowledgeable when it comes to CF, and in many cases the people that live and deal with Cf on a daily basis have built up a better knowledge and understanding of it.

Once again God bless you all, and your loved ones, and many thanks for your support, it means a lot to me.
Greg.

 

[anonymous]

Nearly forgot to mention that we have taken Harriet to Cyprus twice, and the climate is very hot and dry there, with very low humidity, and it seemed to really give her a boost, so maybe this is the ideal climate?

Greg

 

[VOOGIE]

Donna, I'm pretty sure that living next to the beach, and the big reduction in pollution is massively beneficial in itself. I am originally from England's second largest city, but we moved to a very rural village next to the beach before she was born, and I really beleive that if we hadn't she would not be as strong and active as she is now.

God bless you all
Greg