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.

[Whitehousee in reply to Alberta56]

Yes I am exactly.the same they have just changed my.inhaler with stronger steriods but I cough using it.waiting to know what they sugest

[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

[Dogtag345]

hi guys, just been released from hospital again after spending 6 days getting needles stuck in me, the problem is I seem to well it's it like like hyperventilation it's difficult to breathe in and breathe out your nose runs some kinda clear mucus constantly during the attack and you have no way in hell in controlling your bladder plus after you calm down your rib cage feels like has been jumping on them

does any of you guys suffer from it or something similar and is something too easy the hole sinareo

to any replies

thank guys

[Jake25]

Yes I do find it harder to breathe in winter the cold the wind the humidity all effect my COPD. Winter is a real struggle and when your still working out in the community you tend to pick up viruses very easily as I have just picked up this flu virus. I feel totally disgusted with what some GP surgeries are now doing they are not prescribing rescue pack's of antibiotics and steroids, in advance, this has left me quite ill. I started to feel unwell this past Friday and waited until Monday for the surgery to open, could not get through via the phone, took a slow walk down as its not far but was nearly on my knees with breathlessness when I got there I was told there was no appointments left. So I asked the receptionist to call me a paramedic to which I soon got an appointment. Saw a doctor a couple of hours later only for her to prescribe me a rescue pack. Have Asthma and Lung heard of this.? Its disgusting are they trying to kill us off early?Our local A&E is over run asking for only major emergencies to call, lots of people are not going to call even though its a major emergency. I feel like they are dictating when we can have our medications. Who came up with this idea I wonder. 🤔

[Yvonneh1234]

I’m worse in the winter but in the summer the humid conditions affect my copd aswell I’m quite good in spring I agree with jake25 I don’t think rescue packs should be be taken off us it delays the treatment when needed and could avoid us with lung problems ending up in hospital were we could catch other things when they are short for beds most the year xx

[Ern007]

Winter is never good for me - Breathing is worse evenif not a full flare (Just had one of those this winter.

[islande]

I find the cold air makes it hard to breathe on the worst of the winter weather so I avoid going out as much as I can plus leicestershire health authority have advised gps not to prescribe rescue packs so if you fall ill friday night you have to wait until Monday morning to see a gp why does the nhs shut down over the weekend do they think people don't fall ill