I end up in hospital every year because of wood burning stoves

Our supporter Julie has severe asthma and looks forward to going out in her wheelchair with her carers for some fresh air each day. But she's often forced to stay inside during the autumn due to a toxic cocktail of air pollution, partially caused by wood burning stoves. Here she tells us about it.

Julie, Asthma + Lung UK supporter
Published 12th January 2026

"I've had asthma since I was a young child, but it became severe when I was a teenager. I was in and out of hospital more than 100 times and regularly needed nebulisers or intravenous treatment to stabilise my breathing.

At times, I was having asthma attacks so often that I had to go to A&E every night. Sometimes, I wouldn’t get any sleep, but I would go to school anyway because I was so determined that I wasn’t going to let anything stop me.

Music was my life - but I just couldn't carry on

Despite this, I became a musician, playing the flute and the recorder, and went to university part-time to pursue my dream of a career in music. 

However, when I was 25 I coughed so much during an asthma attack that one of my lungs collapsed.

I finished my degree in the summer and my lung collapsed just a couple of months afterwards. I had to spend weeks in hospital and when I was finally able to go home I had to start using a wheelchair.

I wasn't able to play the flute or the recorder at all after that, because the doctors were worried that my lung would collapse again. I was gutted because music had been my life. I really wanted a career as a music teacher or therapist, but I just couldn’t carry on.

I can't even open my windows in autumn

I end up in hospital pretty much every year around November because that’s when people start using their wood burning stoves, having bonfires in their gardens and lighting fireworks,

I can’t go out in my wheelchair in the autumn because there are wood burning stoves all around the area where I live. I can’t even open my windows, and sometimes just opening the front door to let my carers into the house can set off my asthma.

The amount of small particle air pollution caused by lighting fires in the home has more than doubled over the past ten years, while the air pollution from industry and cars, vans and lorries has been decreasing. [1] 

However, there is a huge lack of awareness about the significant risks that these fires pose to our own health and our neighbours and more needs to be done.

Socialising can be difficult sometimes

I've also recently been diagnosed with Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction, a vocal chord dysfunction, which makes me even more prone to having breathing difficulties.

I can't work because of my lung conditions, but I'm determined not to let my health issues hold me back. I like to go out with my friends whenever possible but even that can be difficult sometimes.

I went out for a friend’s birthday to a restaurant which had one of those pizza ovens that burns coal. I started struggling to breathe so I used my reliever inhaler, but by the time my food arrived I was feeling even worse.

I had to leave, go straight to A&E and stay in hospital for a week. I’ve never been back to any restaurants with ovens like that because I just can’t trust them.

If you or someone you care for has been affected by wood or coal burning, you could make a huge difference to our clean air campaigns by sharing your story. We would love to hear from you. 

References 

[1] Accredited official statistics, Emissions of air pollutants. Accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/emissions-of-air-pollutants  

 

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