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 with their lungs over the winter, and that’s why the vaccination campaigns are so important,” he says.

Take your medication