WINTER can be “deadly” for asthma sufferers and a charity has warned that thousands of Scots could face being hospitalised through a “life-threatening” attack.
Asthma UK said cold weather, colds and flu, or even dust from putting on central heating, could all lead to an attack.
The charity analysed hospital statistics from the last five years and predicted that an estimated 2000 people in Scotland could end up in hospital this winter. It also revealed that almost half of asthma deaths in the UK happen over the winter months – claiming 45 lives in Scotland last year.
As the NHS faces increasing pressure with growing demand for services and staff shortages, Asthma UK is urging people with the condition to follow simple tips to stay well this winter.
It said it also wanted people to understand when they do need to seek urgent medical help.
If asthma symptoms are so severe that people need to use their blue reliever inhaler three or more times each week it is a sign that an asthma attack could be imminent, and they should visit a doctor or nurse urgently.
People with asthma have sensitive airways and when they come into contact with winter triggers such as plunging temperatures, colds and flu and mould, it causes their airways to become more inflamed and tighten, which causes coughing, wheezing and leaving them struggling to breathe.
One woman who has first-hand experience of winter playing havoc with her symptoms is Karen Peacock, a customer service manager from Paisley.
The 47-year-old was hospitalised last December with an asthma attack after a picking up a virus.
She said: “I‘d been for a Christmas dinner with friends but when I got home I felt my chest tighten like it was a vice and I started gasping for breath.
“I managed to get myself to hospital, where doctors told me I was having a life-threatening asthma attack.
“I had to breathe through a mask and stay in hospital for six days.
“When it’s winter you accept you might get a cold or a virus but I never expected it to trigger something more deadly like an asthma attack.
“Looking back, I realised I had the warning signs that an asthma attack was imminent as I was using my reliever inhaler almost every day.”
Dr Andy Whittamore, clinical lead at Asthma UK and a practising GP, added: “Winter is the deadliest season for people with asthma, with plummeting temperatures, and colds and flu putting them at greater risk of being hospitalised for a life-threatening asthma attack.”
Asthma UK's winter triggers can be found here
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