Asthma + Lung UK

3 Feb 2025

Hi everyone 👋 We’re Asthma + Lung UK and we’re here to help fight for everyone’s right to breath! From research + campaigning to advice + support, we’re the UK’s leading lung charity. Find out more about what we do: asthmaandlung.org.uk

There are different types of flu virus these are called strains. The strains of flu virus that are most likely to make you ill change every year. This means that the vaccines you need to protect you from flu also need to be updated. Check your eligibility with your GP or online.

Did you know you can get your flu vaccine in certain pharmacies? Nazir, a specialist respiratory pharmacist and our Clinical Lead at Asthma + Lung UK, shares three ways to check if you can get vaccinated in your local pharmacies.

asthmaandlung.org.ukWinter can be life and breathIf you have a lung condition, your risk of ending up in A&E doubles in winter. Stay well with our free, personalised guide to protect your lungs.

If you need some support this winter, download your free personalised winter guide for tips on staying well this season, www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/winter-can-b...

gov.ukSocial media campaign urges Brits to get vaccinated for winterGovernment launches a social media campaign to promote a new NHS App feature which helps people check their eligibility and book their flu vaccination

Government launches a campaign to promote a new NHS App feature which helps people check their eligibility and book their flu vaccination. Sarah Sleet, CEO shared, “For nearly 12 million people in the UK living with a lung condition, winter can be a frightening time." www.gov.uk/government/n...

"For them flu is far more than just a few days in bed. It can trigger serious and potentially life-threatening flare-ups leading to emergency hospital admissions." “Everyone eligible for a vaccine should take up the offer, giving themselves the best protection this winter.”

We have access to more information than ever before, but this can also make it harder to find trusted health advice. Emma Rubach, Head of Health Advice, explains more about what reliable health information looks like and how you can find it. Read more: www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/blog/advice-...

It’s important to manage your lung condition well over the winter season. Stay well with our free, personalised guide to protect your lungs. Visit our website to get yours, www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/winter-can-b...

independent.co.ukOlder Brits urged to get flu vaccine after nearly 4,000 deaths in England last winterFigures from the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) annual report suggest excess deaths from flu were 3,798 last winter

Older people are being urged to receive flu vaccinations after modelling indicated nearly 4,000 deaths in England were caused by flu last winter. Read here: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Andrew McCracken, our director of External Affairs, said “The flu season has started and the sooner you get your vaccine, the sooner you will be protected. The latest evidence shows that people living with chronic lung conditions are seven times more likely to die from flu.”

In 2023, Jodie’s new-born twins caught RSV and their family’s world turned upside down. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that spreads during the winter months and can cause bronchiolitis in babies, and pneumonia in babies and older adults.

asthmaandlung.org.ukWinter can be life and breathIf you have a lung condition, your risk of ending up in A&E doubles in winter. Stay well with our free, personalised guide to protect your lungs.

The RSV vaccine is the best way to protect yourself or your baby from catching RSV. This year more people are eligible for the vaccine. More information about how to stay well in winter can be found in our Winter Wellbeing Guide on our website: www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/winter-can-b...

Most people with lung conditions can get a free flu vaccine. The NHS should let you know when you can book an appointment. You might get a reminder by text message, email, phone call, or letter. Speak to your GP, nurse or pharmacist. Getting your flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself.

If you have a lung condition and catch the flu, you're more at risk of having an asthma attack or a flare-up of your lung condition. Annette lives with asthma and shared with us her experience of having flu. www.nhs.uk/nhs-services...

Getting the flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself from catching flu this winter. It can also prevent the spread of flu to friends, family, and anyone you come into contact with, including those at high risk from flu. Check your eligibility with your GP Practice or online.

RSV symptoms are similar to a cold. But it can be serious because RSV can cause bronchiolitis in babies and young children and pneumonia in younger children and older adults. The RSV vaccine is the best way to protect yourself or your baby from catching RSV.

asthmaandlung.org.ukasthmaandlung.org.uk

Find out more about RSV on our website, www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/r...

Samantha Walker, our Director of Research and Innovation, joined Jason Goodyer on the BBC podcast 'Instant Genius', talking all things asthma. The podcast explores the latest developments in asthma research. Hear the full podcast here: open.spotify.com/episode/5prB...

In 2023, Jodie and her family faced the unimaginable when her twins both caught RSV at just eight weeks old. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that spreads during the winter months and can cause bronchiolitis in babies, and pneumonia in babies and older adults.

18 Sept

Flu can be a very serious illness and if you have a lung condition and catch flu, you’re more at risk of having an asthma attack or flare-up. Vaccines are one of the most important things that the NHS does to prevent illness and save lives. Book yours today.

16 Sept

According to our new research, children in half of England could be missing out on an accurate asthma diagnosis, leaving them at increased risk of serious asthma attacks and emergency hospital admissions. Read more here: www.msn.com/en-gb/health...

16 Sept

Do you remember our award-winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show Breathing Space garden? Well now it has found its permanent home! The garden has completed it’s 160 mile journey up north from London to the @trftnhs.bsky.social Breathing Space lung rehabilitation centre.

16 Sept

From the first spades in the ground in Rotherham to featuring at the The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the Asthma + Lung UK Breathing Space Garden has been on a journey. Watch it here!

14 Sept

Are you starting university this September? Before you start university, be sure to check these off: - Register with a new local GP - Keep a copy of your asthma action plan - If you’re living with other people, tell them about your asthma - Find out how to manage new asthma triggers

theguardian.comNHS reports busiest ever summer as heatwaves drive up hospital admissionsHealth secretary says extreme demand no longer confined to winter as service in England warns of knock-on effects

10 Sept

NHS reports heatwaves drive up hospital admissions. Andrew McCracken, Director of External Affairs said: “Breathing issues are already the leading cause of emergency admissions in England and it’s likely that this summer increase is in part being driven by respiratory problems."

10 Sept

Read the full article here: www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

8 Sept

We're delighted to announce the winner of our 2026 Summer Competition. Linda shared how rather than letting her asthma stop her from enjoying summer, she travelled north in search of cooler weather and captured this moment on Holy Island, Northumberland, during her first ride on an e-bike.

7 Sept

Symptoms of lung conditions may include breathlessness, a cough that lasts a long time or goes away and comes back, wheezing and more. Having any of these symptoms does not mean you have a lung condition, but it’s important to speak to your GP or healthcare professional.

independent.co.ukLaughter therapy offers new hope for millions in UK with common lung conditionAn estimated 1.7 million people in the UK suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

7 Sept

Did you know laughter therapy could help people living with COPD? We’re helping to fund an exciting study which shows that laughter therapy is an effective way to control breathlessness for people with COPD. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

3 Sept

Our Director of Research & Innovation, Dr Samantha Walker, reveals how we’re coming together to shape the future of research. Imagine if everyone working on lung conditions pulled together to work across these conditions we’d be able to make some amazing breakthroughs over the next 5 to 10 years.

asthmaandlung.org.ukOur research impactFind out how our research is changing lives, what we fund, why it matters and how you can help.

3 Sept

By coming together as a community, we can shape the future of research and change how we breathe. Head to our website to read more about what we’re doing to change what comes next. www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/our-research...

@dpcarrington.bsky.social

27 Aug

We know that living with a lung condition can often be an invisible battle. But just because you can't always see it, doesn't mean it's not there. At Asthma + Lung UK we’re fighting alongside anyone affected by lung conditions. Your voices, stories and experiences inform everything we do.

Asthma + Lung UK reposted

Damian Carrington

27 Aug

Free alerts warning people about #airpollution launched in England But ... "These can't protect people if the bar is set too high. What govt deems dangerous is outdated and lax. Pollution breaching WHO safe levels, could still register as ‘low'," says Asthma + Lung UK news.sky.com/story/free-a...

news.sky.comFree alerts warning people about air pollution launchedThe opt-in system will allow users to receive an alert when air quality is poor in their area, so those with health conditions can reduce exposure to pollution.

eventbrite.co.ukBeyond the Tobacco + Vapes Act: Improving Smoking Cessation SupportA workshop for people with a history of smoking and those working in cessation services to share experiences and improve cessation support.

26 Aug

We’d love to hear from healthcare professionals who work in smoking cessation services. Join us to help shape policy on smoking cessation. Sign up for our London workshop on Monday 7 September, 2-4pm in The Raines House Community Hub: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-the...

New data analysis from @healthequals.bsky.social reveals lives are being cut short by up to 18 years in parts of the UK. Dr @copddoc.bsky.social, our Medical Director, and member of Health Equals, said: "I see first-hand how the conditions in which we live, work and grow affect our health...

View full thread

"Poor housing with damp and mould can worsen lung conditions, while bad air quality is linked to heart and lung disease. Financial insecurity also takes a serious toll on people’s mental and physical health. Over time, these pressures build up, leading to worse health and shorter lives."

“By improving the building blocks of health, safe homes, clean air, secure work, sufficient income and healthy communities, more children can have a decent start to life, and people can live longer, healthier lives, regardless of their postcode."

and nowhere is the inequity starker than in respiratory health. Poor housing with damp and mould can worsen lung conditions, while bad air quality is linked to heart and lung disease."

Study led by @qmul.bsky.social found that air quality improvements after the introduction of ULEZ are strongly associated with accelerated lung growth in children. Sarah Sleet, our CEO, said: “ULEZ can spark fierce political debate, but this study replaces the polarised opinions with hard evidence."

"Air pollution damages kids’ lungs, and low emission zones can reverse the harm. A real cause for hope is that it isn’t just future generations that get protected, the study authors conclude that children in London with already damaged lungs recovered.

qmul.ac.ukIntroduction of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone linked to improved lung growth in children

“Children’s lungs are still developing, making them especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution. Reducing their exposure to toxic air, lowers their risk of developing life-limiting lung conditions like asthma, COPD and lung cancer. Read more here: www.qmul.ac.uk/news/latest-...

It's world photography day and we have loved seeing your summer competition photos so far! The competition ends this Friday, enter the competition while you still can! www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/summer-compe...

18 Aug

We have a range of condition specific support groups so you can feel supported and heard by others living with your lung condition. Our support groups, Bronchiectasis, COPD, Long covid, Newly Diagnosed Workshops. Visit our website to secure your space: www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/groups-suppo...

13 Aug

GOV.UK released that newborn ICU admissions dropped by 50% in first full year of RSV maternal vaccine programme. Matt Swallow, Clinical Lead, “These findings are very encouraging and show that the RSV vaccine for pregnant women is already making a real difference for babies and their families.”

13 Aug

“RSV is a common virus, but it can cause serious breathing difficulties in young infants, sometimes leading to hospitalisation. Increasing uptake of the RSV vaccine in pregnancy will be key to ensuring that even more babies benefit from this protection.”

gov.ukNewborn ICU admissions drop 50% in first full year of RSV maternal vaccine programmeWhile around 60% of women giving birth every month are vaccinated, UKHSA warns many thousands of babies still at risk.

13 Aug

“We want to see everyone who could benefit from this vaccine, and other essential respiratory vaccines have them, and we will work with the government to improve access and raise awareness.” See more here: www.gov.uk/government/n...

12 Aug

We asked Ellie our Specialist Respiratory Dietitian for tips to help you eat well and stay hydrated during hot weather. "Staying hydrated is key, drink regularly throughout the day." "You may also notice that you have less of an appetite when it’s hot. Try eating smaller and more frequent meals."

7 Aug

Join a trusted community and learn more about your lung condition with our support groups. Wondering how you could benefit from our support groups? Build your confidence, access expert information and share your experiences. Find your space on our website: www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/groups-suppo...

6 Aug

We want to hear from you. We know that stopping smoking is hard and support can range from person to person. That’s why we're listening to smokers and ex-smokers on their experiences of using smoking cessation services. Join our Liverpool workshop: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-the...

5 Aug

Noticed the heat has affected your breathing while walking? You’re not alone. Heat and humidity can make it much harder to carry on with activities. If you notice your lung condition symptoms are getting worse, follow your action or self-management plan or speak to a healthcare professional.