The importance of looking after your lungs and heart this winter
About 10,000 people in the UK are newly diagnosed with a lung disease every week and 7.6 million people in the UK are living with a heart or circulatory condition.
During winter, it’s important to know the effects of changing weather on your body, and especially the risks for your lung and heart health if you are living with an ongoing condition.
The changing temperature, respiratory viruses, central heating and damp and mould all play havoc with our lungs and excessive cold weather can cause your blood vessels to narrow and your heart rate to increase, meaning your heart is having to work harder than usual.
We have pulled together some tops tips to help you stay well this winter, enjoy festivities and help your loved ones understand where they can support you.
We advise all patients to:
- Get their vaccinations
- Avoided crowded places and unwell people
- Understand and take their medication
- Check the weather and take precautions
- Stay warm and keep moving even when at home
- Look after their mental health by ensure they keep in contact with loved ones
We find when a patient understands their condition, their medication and can recognise what triggers their condition - they are better able to care for themselves and make an informed decision when to seek medical support early, preventing escalation and even hospital admission.
You can find more information on living well with an ongoing condition on our dedicated pages visit https://fhac-archive.frimley.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/ongoing-health-conditions/ or why not take a screen shot of our handy poster below and share it with others.
