Hot weather and breathing

[snoopy6691]

Hubby struggling to breath in heat. Any ideas? He is Stage 4 NSCLC for 18 months and not currently on treatment but left lung collapsed so working on 1 only

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Dear snoopy6691

Sorry to hear about your husband as it can be challenging in hot weather.

I have placed a link below from the British Lung Foundation on some good tips on how to keep cool in this hot weather to ease breathing:

blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

Keeping his face cool with either a fan or wet cloth can help breathing, ice cubes in drinks beside him etc.

Hope this helps and if you would like to discuss anything you can either email us at [e-mail] or call our free phone nurse led helpline

number on 0800 358 7200

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Hi snoopy6691

Air conditioned shopping malls may give him some relief, and depending where you live with the use of masks. Early morning and between 5-6pm are usually the quietest times, however it is worth bearing in mind that many others may be thinking the same.

If you notice at any point that he is really struggling to breathe, has a change in symptoms or worsening, it may be worth getting him medically assessed, and do not hesitate to call an ambulance if his symptoms get worse.

This is a link from the NHS on how to cope in the heat: nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-bo...

Kind regards

The Roy Castle Support Team

[snoopy6691 in reply to RoyCastleHelpline]

Thank you for the reply

It was overnight he struggled with but he thinks he was panicking so lay still for 20 mins, slowed his breathing and drifted off to a noisy sleep 💤

Tonight I'll get the humidifier and fan in the room but think temps are dropping

Seeing Consultant tomorrow so will mention then

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Hi snoopy6691

I am glad he is okay and hope you got some rest eventually. It will be reassuring for you both to see the Consultant tomorrow.

Take good care of yourself.

The Roy Castle Support Team

[JanetteR57]

It's harder to breathe in these temperatures and nights can be difficult - have a large fan in the room and if possible a small fan by the bedside for his face.... he may find it easier to breathe if slightly propped up in bed rather than lying flat... panicking makes it worse although it's a natural reaction when you can't breathe - try and slow the breathing to calm the system and keep cool - wet head/hair if possible - sleep with very few if any bedclothes on top and keep movement to a minimum if possible... hope gets some relief soon - I felt really sick on Monday after having had hardly any sleep on Sunday night - but yesterday managed to get the air conditioner working in the room where I work so was much better yesterday and easier to get to sleep last night as had been swimming so body at a much cooler temperature than the previous night... (I had a lobectomy in Dec 2010 removing half my left lung and had asthma as a young person until almost 40 so have experienced the difficulties of breathing in cold and hot weather quite often...). good luck...