Important advice on managing asthma during freezing conditions
06 January 2010

With temperatures dipping below freezing across the UK, Asthma UK is offering important advice to more than 5 million people with asthma in the UK on managing their condition during the colder weather.

This time of year is particularly perilous, with 90% of people with asthma telling us that colds and flu trigger their symptoms and 75% saying that cold air makes their asthma worse.

Delia Balan, asthma nurse specialist at Asthma UK gives her five top tips to help you keep in control of your asthma:

1. Wrap up well and wear a scarf over your nose and mouth. Using a scarf will help to warm up the air before you breathe it in. You can also take a couple of puffs of your reliever inhaler before going outside if cold air triggers your asthma.
2. Have the seasonal and swine flu jabs. If you have been invited to be vaccinated, we recommend you make an appointment as soon as possible. Hospital admissions for asthma peak over the winter months due to the effects of colds and flu, so being immunised could help you to stay well and avoid emergency treatment. 
   
3. Take extra care when exercising in cold weather. Warm up for 10-15 minutes and take a couple of puffs of your reliever inhaler before you start.
4. Keep your blue reliever inhaler with you at all times, as you never know when you may have an asthma attack. Having immediate access to your inhaler could help to keep you out of hospital or even save your life.
5. Take practical steps to stay in control this winter. This includes continuing to take your asthma medicines as prescribed by your doctor or asthma nurse. Some medicines like preventers build up their protective effect over time so you still need to take them every day even when feeling well.  To help manage changes in your asthma, Asthma UK also recommends that you have a personal asthma action plan. Research shows that using a plan is one of the most effective ways of controlling asthma. Your doctor or asthma nurse in discussion with you should help complete this plan and it should contain all the information you need to manage your asthma, including details about your medicines, how to tell when your asthma is getting worse and what to do about it, plus what to do in an emergency. You can order an action plan at asthma.org.uk or call 0800 121 62 55. 

The Asthma UK Adviceline is also available if people want independent, confidential advice about asthma. It is staffed by asthma nurse specialists and is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm, on 0800 121 62 44.

Ends

• Asthma UK is the charity dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the 5.4 million people in the UK whose lives are affected by asthma.
  
• For up-to-date news on asthma, information and publications, visit the Asthma UK website asthma.org.uk.
• For independent and confidential advice on asthma, call the Asthma UK Adviceline, which is staffed by asthma nurse specialists. It is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm on 0800 121 62 44. Or email an asthma nurse at asthma.org.uk/adviceline.