LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - "Whenever the weather gets colder, it also causes the humidity, especially indoors, to drop."

James Tarbox, MD with Texas Tech Physicians says that drop in humidity can affect you in multiple ways, even in your own home.

"You can get a runny nose, nosebleed, itchy eyes," Tarbox said. "It can make it tougher to breathe and then another thing people can tell, especially if you wash your hands a lot, is your skin dries out."

With that in mind, Dr. Tarbox has a few tips on how to help you push through the cold air.

First, using hand creams regularly will help with dry skin. Using nasal spray, drinking plenty of water, and taking shorter showers can also benefit you significantly during this time.

Tarbox says turning up the heat in your home will do more harm than good, but there is a tool out there that can help make your air quality better.

"Turning up the heat will help from a temperature standpoint, but your air is still dry," Tarbox said. "If you have some expendable income, sometimes I've even recommended patients to actually connect a humidifier to your HVAC system."

With temperatures dropping in the next few days, Tarbox says the key is to make sure you know what's happening around you and take the proper steps to avoid any symptoms related to the cold.

"Just being aware that because the weather is colder, you need to do more to offset that," Tarbox said. "Whether it be using nasal saline, making sure that you know you're using lotions and creams on your hands multiple times a day. If you need medicine for your airways, especially if you have underlying asthma or COPD, make sure you have that in case you need it."