Blog
Welcome to the Asthma + Lung UK blog.
Together we can help create a world where everyone has healthy lungs. Read on for advice + information, personal stories, campaigning + research news.
Your stories
Your stories
I didn’t prioritise my flu jab and I ended up in hospital
Annette, 67, from Suffolk, has asthma. She was hospitalised after getting the flu. Here she tells us her story and urges everyone to get their flu jab.
Your stories
Quitting smoking isn’t easy, but my asthma symptoms are definitely better
Luke, 37, smoked on and off for 17 years. He tried to stop smoking many times before he finally quit for good. His main message is to not give up on giving up.
Your stories
I gave up smoking because I wanted to see my son grow up
Pauline started smoking at 13, and decided to stop when she was diagnosed with COPD at 54, which wasn’t easy. She wants there to be more understanding for e people who are trying to stop smoking.
Advice + support
Advice + support
How I learned to manage my wellbeing after being diagnosed with COPD
Katy was shocked to be diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at 63, especially after her mother lived with the same condition. Even though she found it hard to accept at first, she now feels like she’s adjusted to living with COPD. She shares what helped her manage her lung condition and rebuild her wellbeing.
Advice + support
Our advice on finding trusted health advice online
We have access to more information than ever before, but this can also make it harder to find trusted health advice. Emma Rubach, our Head of Health Advice, explains more about what reliable health information looks like and how you can find it.
Advice + support
What do changes to lower carbon inhalers mean for you?
You may have heard that the gas used inside some inhalers is changing to have less carbon. This means that the inhalers will have a lower carbon footprint, also known as being ‘carbon minimal’. But what does it mean for you? Our clinical lead Dr Matt Swallow explains more and shares how you can get the most from your inhaler.
Research
Research
ERS 2026: where the future of research takes shape
The European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress is one of the largest and most important lung health research conferences. Here are the Research + Innovation team's highlights from this year's congress held in Barcelona.
Research
Why do the lungs age faster in COPD and how can we slow it down?
We know the lungs of people with COPD age faster than in other people. Dr Justine Devulder is trying to find out why, and whether this can help find new treatments to slow down the progression of COPD.
Research
Could laughter be the best medicine for bronchiectasis?
Can we make treatment fun for people living with bronchiectasis? Dr Arietta Spinou is trying to find out.
Campaigning
Campaigning
Becoming a nurse has made me much more aware of the risks of air pollution
Amber, 22, from Burton-on-Trent, is a nurse and cares for many people with chronic lung conditions such as COPD and asthma. Here she tells us why she thinks tackling air pollution is so vital to protect our lung health, and why she's supporting Asthma + Lung UK.
Campaigning
We took your voices straight to Parliament
We've been campaigning hard for the government to introduce a dedicated plan for lung health and 1000s of you have joined us. Last week we teamed up with the Taskforce for Lung Health, of which we are a member, to take the campaign straight to Parliament. Here we give you the lowdown.
Campaigning
I’ve become very aware of the dangers of air pollution since my son was diagnosed with bronchiectasis
Ruth’s son Kieran was diagnosed with bronchiectasis at only 9 years old. Ruth 49, believes that the air pollution in London, where they live, has made his lung condition worse. Read her story.
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