We want to hear your story

[AsthmaandLung]

Do you find it harder to breathe in winter?

If you’ve ever become more breathless in winter, we want to hear your story. Things like colds and viruses, cold weather or mould might have made your lung condition worse over winter – or even led you or somebody you love to end up in hospital. This year, we want to help everyone understand how serious winter can be for people with lung conditions.

We’re particular keen to hear from you if:

• you’ve been very unwell with flu over winter

• you’ve found winter challenging (perhaps your symptoms have been particularly bad, or you’ve felt very isolated) and used our support services – our health advice, our Helpline, or Health Unlocked – to help you to manage you lung condition

Your story might be used across our social media channels, in our reports, or featured as part of our winter health advice. And we’ll support you to tell it every step of the way.

Join us in the fight for lung health. Get in touch with us at [e-mail]

[Alberta56]

My health is worse in winter because the weather is worse. Cold air, wind and driving rain are all triggers, which you can't avoid if you have to go outdoors. This means it is harder to exercise properly, especially if one is anxious to avoid places where one is more likely to be in contact with people suffering from colds, covid or anything else.

[Coughingalltheway]

This will be my first winter since my condition deteriorated so it will be a learning curve for me. I do know that the heat affects my breathing so I'm hoping that the cold weather won't so much. I sleep much better when it's cold so that could possibly help my immune system?

[Difficul]

Both too hot (especially too humid) and too cold seem to adversely affect my breathing, raining is not great either. I also function less well indoors when my house is too cool. Fairly high pressure weather, dry and warm, with a gentle breeze seems to suit me best. Not sure how you can help with this.

[Germantara]

My copd acts ups all year off an on allsots trigger it its a blooming nuisance

[Troilus]

I’m worse in winter - especially in the mornings. I leave the heating on low all night which helps, but not to the point where I don’t need my blue inhaler first thing to get me going.

[PaulineHM]

For sure winters here in U.K. are very challenging. I am ‘disabled’ in the winter conditions and have to work very hard to keep well and in reasonable condition through the winter fit to emerge in the springtime.

I used to have a winter plan where I spent the winters in Southern Spain but no more due to oxygen being very difficult to arrange and travel with in Europe. Those winters- dry and marginally warmer really helped.

Now I try to plan - to keep warm, a heated throw, layers of clothing, electric blanket in bed, warm slippers and so on. I have a day light lamp as well to use in the mornings. I think I might take some Vit D this winter and of course nourishing food. Thank goodness for online shopping.

Going into autumn now and just recovering from a very nasty lengthy exacerbation doesn’t fill me with confidence..especially with the state of the health care here in U.K. at the moment.

Sigh…it’s such hard work at times!

Go well,

Pauline