Hot off the Helpline: February edition

Meet the team

Meet Debra

Debra has been a Health Care Advisor on our Helpline at Asthma + Lung UK for 6 years. She came to us after working for nearly 20 years in the education sector - supporting young, disaffected adults into education and training. She also worked in the NHS in mostly support and PA roles in the Surgical and Cardiology departments of major hospitals.

Debra enjoys the variety of calls on the helpline: “We never know what we will be asked on calls. Each one is a new challenge, and this is something I really enjoy”

Debra also facilitates our Long Covid Support Group which is held once a month. She’s committed to helping people with lung conditions to find the support and information they need. And give them the confidence to advocate for themselves, so they can live well with their lung condition.

Top questions on the helpline this month 

My breathing is making me anxious - how can I protect my mental wellbeing?

Winter poses challenges to our lung health due to cold temperatures, more time indoors, seasonal viruses, and things like mould and damp. As well as our physical health, winter can also affect our emotional health. We’ve taken a lot of calls recently from people dealing with a range of emotions. People feeling scared, frustrated, overwhelmed and sometimes angry. Some people find that strong feelings trigger their asthma symptoms or worsen their lung symptoms.

Looking after your mental health is just as important as looking as after your physical health. Talk to a healthcare professional so they can support you - your mental and emotional wellbeing is important to them too. They can help you find ways to manage your mental health and signpost you to counselling and wellbeing services.

Our helpline team is here to support you too. You can talk to us about any aspect of living with your lung condition.

And try joining one of our support groups for people with lung conditions. Connect with others who understand your experiences and learn new ways to live well with your lung condition.

I’ve been in contact with asbestos- should I be worried?

We have had a small flurry of callers relating to concerns they have asbestos or have been exposed to it. There’s often a degree of anxiety surrounding contact with asbestos and disease related to exposure. Microscopic fibres are released from when asbestos is damaged or disturbed, and breathing in high concentrations of these fibres for long periods of time can affect your lungs. The risk is low if materials are undisturbed, but you should let your GP know so they can note it on your records. 

I have Long COVID – how do I get the support I need?

Despite 2025 marking 5 years since the global pandemic, we continue to have conversations about COVID-19. Over the last month we’ve had a number of callers looking for support on managing long-term symptoms. 

Long COVID is used to describe symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) that last for over four weeks and cannot be explained by another condition. You can get long COVID even if you had mild covid symptoms. Symptoms of long COVID can be different for everyone, but the most common symptoms include feeling extremely tired, shortness of breath, joint pains, aching muscles and problems with your memory and concentration, also called brain fog.

We can talk about strategies to help you manage these symptoms such as healthy eating and managing breathlessness. We can also give you advice on how to have conversations with your health care professionals to get more support, as well help finding financial support if you need it because of work-related difficulties. If you suspect you have long COVID, please discuss this with your GP.

Healthy lung habits 

Last month we introduced ‘Healthy lung habits’ where each month, we’ll talk about a topic month that helps keep your lungs healthy. This month we discuss the impact of exercise on lung health. 

Exercise doesn’t just help us manage weight, but it can also improve our immune response to help fight colds and flu. It helps us to manage our stress levels, and it can help promote better sleep habits. In terms of our lung health, exercise helps strengthen our breathing muscles and makes our heart stronger, reducing our risk of cardiovascular diseases Your body becomes more efficient at getting oxygen into your bloodstream and moving it into your muscles. If our heart-lung system is more efficient, it can help reduce those feelings of breathlessness. Regular activity can also improve your mental and emotional wellbeing.

We understand that living with a long-term lung condition means you may feel differently from one day to the next and can make it more challenging to keep active.  

Our Keep Active programme gives you everything you need to start moving more with your lung condition, at your own pace and the right level for you. 

You can also follow this programme in our Keep Active handbook which includes resources to set your goals and track your activity over time. 

Support group spotlight

Long COVID online support group

An online support group for those living with long COVID to share your experiences, connect with others and get tips to manage your breathlessness. Debra will be pleased to see you and welcome any new faces to the group. 

Find out more and register 

Thank you for reading this month’s blog. Stay tuned for next month’s edition.