Health Awareness
Respiratory
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Severe asthma: the impact of inappropriate OCS use
Severe asthma experts are advocating for a change in OCS treatment norms for patients with more severe forms of the condition. Oral corticosteroids (OCS) are anti-inflammatory medicines used to treat a range of conditions including asthma. Most people with asthma manage their symptoms with inhalers. Severe asthma is a condition that is inadequately controlled by...
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Love your lungs: what it’s like to have cystic fibrosis and lung infections
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited genetic condition that affects over 10,900 people in the UK. The condition is caused by a faulty gene which controls the movement of salt and water in and out of your cells. Cystic fibrosis affects many organs and tissues within the body including the lungs, which become clogged with...
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What impact does air pollution have on our brain and mental health?
This year’s Clean Air Day theme — ‘Clean up our air to look after your mind’ — highlights the growing evidence that air pollution can impact mental and brain health. Air pollution is the biggest environmental threat to our health, no matter who you are or where you live. Air pollution affects you from your...
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Accessible tests make respiratory care and diagnosis easier for patients
A significant proportion of respiratory care and diagnosis is undertaken by qualified specialist nurses and other healthcare professionals. This allows for more streamlined care management. Respiratory conditions account for the majority of appointments in general practice and a high proportion of hospital appointments.1 A high level of further education and training allows specialist nurses and...
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How we can help people with lung conditions breathe more easily
One in five people in the UK will need treatment for a lung condition in their lifetime. Lung disease varies from asthma, one of the most prevalent medical conditions, to lung cancer, the biggest cancer killer. Lung disease is associated consistently with breathlessness, a frightening and debilitating symptom, and is strongly linked to health inequality...
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Air pollution’s deadly toll on the UK’s health and daily needs
The scale is dramatic: the health impacts of air pollution, such as breathlessness, can be devastating to people’s everyday lives. Air pollution’s deadly toll on the nation’s health is illustrated in Professor Chris Whitty’s recent report, showing it contributes to up to 43,000 premature deaths in the UK a year. Air pollution can cause life-threatening...
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Action is needed to improve outcomes for those living with COPD
It is estimated that 2 million people are currently living with undiagnosed COPD in the UK. It is also the fifth leading cause of death in the UK and accounts for 30,000 deaths every year. COPD is a chronic lung condition that can cause symptoms of cough, sputum, breathlessness and leads to reduced mobility. Unfortunately,...
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Supporting patients and HCPs with new digital technology
Chronic respiratory diseases present a huge burden on society but advancing technology can help patients to better manage their condition with the help of their healthcare professionals. Chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) impact over half a billion people globally, with COPD alone accounting for 3.2 million deaths...
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How efficient lung disease diagnosis can help improve treatment
Leading scientists are developing pioneering solutions to help diagnose those with respiratory disease and reduce the costs of treating and rehabilitating sufferers. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, respiratory diseases have gained increased focus, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis, correct treatment and patient rehabilitation. Northumbria University is undertaking ground-breaking work for patients with...
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The importance of establishing good inhaler technique
Many respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease require inhaled therapy. Inhalers are convenient and enable the medicine to be delivered exactly where it needs to go. But research suggests that up to 90% of people don’t use their inhalers correctly. This can be due to a number of factors such as...
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Creating a healthy and dust-free working environment
“Employees expect to be able to operate in a safe and healthy environment when they go to work. Safety equipment is vital to ensure all employees are safe at work.” Dust is a common hazard, and depending on the cause of the dust, the air can range from mildly irritating to toxic and dangerous to...
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Air pollution is not just a respiratory health problem
Air pollution impacts everyone, no matter who you are or where you live, not just those who are vulnerable. The relationship between air pollution and our health has been studied for decades but it is still widely misunderstood. Although poor air quality can particularly affect individuals who are more vulnerable – including those with heart...
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Increasing access to effective drug-free treatments for patients with lung disease
Pulmonary rehabilitation is one of the most effective treatments for people with lung disease and more needs to be done to improve access to this vital service. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an exercise and education programme that helps people with lung disease manage their condition, with patients reporting an improvement in symptoms of breathlessness and...
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Levelling up the nation’s dismal lung health for lasting change
It’s no exaggeration to describe the UK’s record on lung health as shameful. There has never been a better time to give respiratory health the investment and attention it deserves. The UK has the worst death rate for lung conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in western Europe. Lung disease is...
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Lifting the limits of cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an incurable life-limiting genetic condition affecting more than 10,800 people in the UK. To mark the end of Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Week, it is important to reflect on life with the condition. Cystic fibrosis is often thought of as a ‘lung disease’ as people with the condition experience a range of...
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Air pollution remains a problem, but it doesn’t have to be this way
A vast majority of people living in European cities continue to be exposed to unsafe levels of air pollution, leaving many exposed to developing a number of health ailments that lead to premature death. We are currently facing a number of challenges – including a rebound in transport, aviation and industry emissions after the COVID-19...
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Important factors to consider when choosing a nebuliser
Nebulisers are a vital tool for patients with a range of respiratory health conditions. Nebulisers have the ability to rapidly deliver drugs to the lungs and, following NHS clinical guidelines, can help in conditions such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis and be used for people with excess mucus in their lungs. ...
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Severe asthma has been neglected for too long
New treatments bring hope to the hundreds of thousands of people living with severe asthma, but our campaign isn’t over yet. People living with the severest form of asthma often find themselves stuck in a never-ending cycle of life-threatening asthma attacks, emergency trips to hospital and regular doses of strong steroid tablets. These can be...
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New research is needed to help prevent RSV in children
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of respiratory infections in children under five accounting for over one-third of lower respiratory infections. Globally, RSV causes about 33 million lower respiratory tract infections during early childhood annually and one in 10 RSV cases is hospitalised. RSV is a leading cause of child deaths (with over...
