North Lincolnshire asthma sufferers warned of dangers of cold weather

Parents across North Lincolnshire are being reminded of the need to ensure their children’s asthma medication is kept up to date and that they take it properly.
NHSNHS
NHS

The timely reminder comes from the North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Trust as hundreds of youngsters in the region are on holiday.

Health experts are reminding parents of asthma sufferers to be extra vigilant as hospital admissions for asthma traditionally peak during periods of particularly cold weather. They say this can be due to breathing cold air into the lungs, which can in turn trigger asthma, as well as picking up colds and flu.

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Trust clinical lead for paediatrics Dr Sandeep Kapoor said: “It’s important that children use their preventative medication properly during half term and take extra care when they are outside in the cold. This will help keep them well and cope with common infections.”

A number of pointers from doctors include urging parents of children with asthma to ensure that their child keeps taking their regular medicines.

In addition they say that if you know that cold air triggers your child’s asthma, ensure that they take one or two puffs of their reliever inhaler before going outside. And also ensure that they keep their blue reliever inhaler with them at all times.

Other advice includes ensuring that they wrap up well and wear a scarf over their nose and mouth – this will help to warm up the air before they breathe it in. Also they advise taking extra care when exercising in cold weather, by ensuring that they warm up for 10-15 minutes and take one or two puffs of their reliever inhaler before they start.

Further information about asthma is also available from the Trust on the NHS Choices http://www.nhs.uk/asthma-cold-weather.aspx website.