Does the chill take your breath away?

AS the chilly weather starts to take hold, you might find yourself feeling wheezy or short of breath.

- BY CAMILLA FOSTER

“That cold air makes our airways in our lungs get a little bit more irritable and narrow,” says GP Dr Andy Whittamore. “People tend to get more mucus in the winter as well.”

He explains that it can cause issues for vulnerable people such as children or those with lung conditions like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or asthma.

“We see a lot of people with lung conditions this time of year because the cold weather and the increase in viruses are setting off their breathing, making them have chest infections,” says Dr Whittamore. Meanwhile children can struggle Because their airways are narrower, so they're more susceptible to narrowing from the cold air, he says.

Here are Dr Whittamore’s top tips on how to look after your lungs as the chill bites...

Take your medication