Hot off the Helpline: December edition

Meet the team

This month, meet Dionne

Hello, my name is Dionne and I am one of the Healthcare Advisors on our Helpline. I support people who are living with, newly diagnosed with, or worried about a lung condition by offering clear information, reassurance, and guidance around their symptoms, triggers and self-management.

What I enjoy most about the role is being able to make a real difference to someone`s day, whether that's helping them understand their condition better, feel more confident using their medication, or simply providing a safe and supportive space to talk things through.

I'm really passionate about helping people feel informed, heard and empowered, and I'm proud to be part of a team that makes sure no one has to face breathing worries alone

Top questions on the helpline this month

My inhalers are changing, despite my lung condition being controlled, why?                  

We’re still having lots of conversations about medication changes in people with asthma.

There’s increasing scientific evidence to show that people with asthma who need to use a lot of their salbutamol reliver inhaler (brand names include salamol and ventolin) should have their asthma checked and tried on better preventer treatment.

Blue inhalers quickly relieve symptoms but do not treat the underlying airway inflammation that is the root cause of asthma. Relying solely on a reliever and - using more than 3-4 inhalers per year - is strongly linked to an increased risk of severe asthma attacks, hospitalisations, and even death.

New national guidelines, written by the UK's top asthma specialists, are recommending that most people with asthma (aged 12 and over) should not be prescribed a blue reliever inhaler. Instead, they stress the importance of daily preventative treatment. This often includes a combination inhaler that includes both a reliever and an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid medicine, like MART or AIR inhalers. These are safer and better at reducing symptoms, flare-ups and hospital admissions. Not all combination inhalers can be used in this way. For more information see our MART webpage.

Your healthcare provider should talk to you about switching treatment at your asthma review.

If you are unsure whether you’re on MART or AIR, or think that you should be, call our helpline or speak to your asthma team or pharmacist. If you’re on a blue reliever inhaler and using it 3 or more times per week, make an appointment with your GP or asthma team to review your asthma treatment.

I’m am concerned about my inhaler and side effects, how can I manage it?

Inhalers are generally safe to use but like any medicine, you may have some side effects.

Some side effects are common. This means that people report having these side effects more than others. These side effects are different depending on which inhaler you use.

Callers often tell us about a sore throat, hoarse voice, and oral thrush. While these side effects can be common, they often can be minimized by rinsing your mouth or gargling with water after use. But the most important thing is making sure you have a good inhaler technique. Our respiratory system was not designed for taking inhalers -  we have a 90% angle at the top of our airway. Making sure your inhaler technique is correct helps limit the potential of oral side effects. And it will help you manage your condition better by ensuring the drug reaches the airways where it needs to work. If you are prescribed a metered dose inhaler (pMDI) it’s best to use a spacer device.

Using the right technique can help manage your symptoms without needing to take a higher dose of your medicine. This can help reduce your risk of having an asthma attack or COPD flare-up

What could affect my lung health over the festive period?

While the festive season can bring lots of merriment, it’s important to highlight that it can also potentially cause difficulties for our lung health.

Colder air can irritate airways which can trigger symptoms in people with existing conditions like asthma or COPD. The cold weather could weaken our immune system's ability to fight off infections, and increased time spent indoors can contribute to a higher spread of viruses.

Time to dig the tree out? Be careful of the dust and mould that could have built up over the last 12 months in storage. Some people find that it affects their lung condition. Shake out the dust outside before bringing it into your home, then be sure to wipe down the decorations and tree.

Real Christmas trees can collect high amounts of pollen from other plants before they are cut down. This can trigger asthma and hay fever symptoms when you bring them into your home. Hose down your live tree before you bring it into the house to help to wash off the allergens.

Christmas can also be a bit stressful for some and strong emotions could potentially trigger your asthma. It’s important to look after your mental health during this busy time. You might be tempted by  Christmassy scented candles but these can also be a trigger for some people, as can smoking in the house. Changes in your routine might also mean you don’t keep up with your medication or self-management plan. Keeping up a good self-management routine and taking your medicines as prescribed can help you stay well over the festive period.

Find out more about how you can stay well during the festive season.

Can you help me to stop smoking?

Lots of people call us for support with quitting smoking.

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do for your lung health. It can reduce your risk of developing lung conditions like COPD and lung cancer.

For people who have COPD, quitting can slow the progression the disease and reduce the loss of lung function over time.

Stopping smoking can also reduce respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, the amount of phlegm you produce and wheezing. It can also reduce your chance of getting respiratory infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

If you have asthma, quitting may improve your lung function, reduce your asthma symptoms, and help your treatment to be more effective.

Find out about different ways to quit smoking, how to cope with withdrawal symptoms, and when you’ll notice the benefits. 

I’m a healthcare professional - where can I get additional support and advice to support my patients?

We’ve had calls from healthcare professionals lately looking for additional resources and advice to support them in helping their patients.

 We take the time to explore symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options of different lung conditions. We also signpost to our range of health advice resources supporting healthcare professionals to deliver best practice in respiratory care.

Alongside the health advice resources found on our website and the helpline, we have the Health Care Professional Hub. This is our digital learning platform for respiratory care in primary and community settings. Here you can access the latest patient information, browse professional resources, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates.

If you are a healthcare professional or know someone working in the respiratory field, you can take a look at our resources for healthcare professionals.

Current hot topics

The NHS recently issued a ‘flu jab SOS’, with England’s top nurse warning people to get protected now, with only weeks to go before the worst of the flu season typically bites.

Cases of flu are triple this time last year with the peak still to come. So eligible adults are urged to come forward to get their vaccine as soon as possible to help stamp out this wave. Getting vaccinated will help to protect your loved ones as well as yourself.

As well as adults, flu can be very unpleasant for children too. It can sometimes cause serious problems, such as pneumonia.

Each winter in the UK, thousands of children who don’t have a health condition need hospital care because of flu. Children can catch and spread flu easily so vaccinating them helps protect others who are at high risk of getting very ill from flu.

Those eligible can book an appointment to get their flu vaccine via their local pharmacy, GP practice, or online.

Find out about flu vaccines and other ways to prevent catching and spreading flu.

Dates for your diary

World Aids Day - 1 December

An opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness.

International Day of People with Disabilities - 3 December 2025

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a UN day that is celebrated every year on 3 December. The day is about promoting the rights and wellbeing of people with disabilities to celebrate people with disabilities in all aspects of political, social, economic, and cultural life.

Support group spotlight

Home Ventilation Online Support Group

An online support group for people using home ventilation on a regular basis.

This support group is for people who need support with a breathing machine (ventilator) at home. This could be due to conditions that cause problems with  breathing muscles such as muscular dystrophy or a curved spine, as well as people with lung conditions.  

This group will provide peer support and discuss important issues faced by people living with conditions that lead to home ventilation. Most importantly, we are a community who support each other and do fabulous things in spite of the difficulties we face.The sessions are held on Zoom on the first Monday of every other month, from 3pm to 4pm.

Find out more about the Home Ventilation Online Support Group.

Asthma + Lung UK successes

Going on the theme of World COPD day , we had the pleasure of Professor John Hurst presenting on “COPD – What does good care look like?” on the 19^th November. This was our first ever COPD webinar. It was a great opportunity to raise awareness of symptoms of breathlessness, persistent coughing or sputum production and frequent chest infections.  As well as risks such as exposure to tobacco smoke, occupational dust, fumes, indoor and outdoor air pollution.

Look out for more webinars in the future.

Thank you for reading this month’s blog. Everyone from Asthma and Lung UK wish you all a very Happy Christmas. Please stay tuned for next year’s 2026 monthly editions.