Asthma and the cold weather

Hi all,

For those who haven't seen it, we posted some advice from our Asthma Nurse Specialists about managing asthma in the freezing conditions last week. It can be found here:

tinyurl.com/yd2qstn

Luke

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thankyou webeditor

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Advice on winter Asthma control

Not all asthmatics can take all that advice. The one about swine and seasonal flu jabs is only available to those who have the more severe asthma although adults can get the seasonal flu jab privately if their asthma is not severe enough for an NHS one. Children cannot get a seasonal flu jab privately so if they don't qualify for an NHS jab they can't have the vaccination. I asked about flu jabs for my 12 year old with mild asthma only to be told he's not on the Asthma register so can't have one. I had to take my son to see our GP to find out what that was as the Receptionist did not know. Turns out my son is not on it because his asthma is not severe enough- he only has the blue inhaler and does not see the Asthma Nurse. Having said that he does have attacks when he does not have a cold and when he does have a cold he has frequent attacks (several a day) so could still be badly affected by the flu.

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What you are experiencing is worrying. Anyone who is currently receiving treatment for asthma should be on the asthma register and should have had both seasonal and swine flu vaccinations. If your son is having asthma attacks then he needs an asthma review to ensure he is on the right medicines. It is certainly not only people with severe asthma who are on the at risk list. If you or your child is being treatment for asthma and have been denied either vaccination then I'd really advise you to complain or contact your local PALS service for support.

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Slightly off-topic, apologies but an interesting article in New York Times about exercise-induced asthma in elite winter sports athletes - well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010... a/ [space added]

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Claire, very interesting and the dry air theory is one I actually do believe as i find humid conditions suit me better, and would back up the recommendation for swimming as the sport/exercise of choice for asthmatics, and why air-con causes problems.

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OK, this is probably a really daft question and I don't know if anyone else has a similar experience or can help...

Cold air is a mega trigger for me, so I try where possible when out to do the sensible thing and wrap a fleecy scarf round nose/mouth which does seem to help.

However, I wear glasses (can't see a thing and get really bad headaches without them, so not an option not to wear them - I tried and regretted it - and I can't wear contacts because of the eye-drops I use) and if I have a scarf round both nose and mouth, the warmer air I breath out causes my glasses to steam up so I can't see where I'm going!!

Anyone got any tips to overcome this?

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Ratty,

try applying soapy water to the glasses and allow it to dry. Buff off the excess soap scum leaving a clear see through film of soap to enable you to see out of the glasses. When you step into differing temperatures, the glasses wont fog or an alternative to applying soap to the glasses is using toothpaste instead. Once you apply the toothpaste to the glasses, rub it in until you’re able to clearly see through the glasses and you’re ready to go. Tip saw in a cycling magazine a few months back, the soap and water does work, but I’d always used anti-fog spray that you coat swim goggles with.

let us know how you get on, and which method you try/works best.

Chris