In Scotland, COPD admissions increase by 50% in winter compared to summer, putting huge pressure on the NHS and worsening the lives of people living with the disease.1
COPD is an umbrella term for a group of lung conditions, which cause breathing difficulties, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and symptoms of the disease include breathlessness, wheezing, a cough, coughing up phlegm and repeated chest infections.
In Scotland 241,000 people are estimated to have been diagnosed with COPD and it is reported that many thousands are left undiagnosed.2
People with lung conditions like COPD can end up seriously unwell over winter – as seasonal triggers like cold and flu, cold air, damp and mould make it harder to breathe.
On 19 November, Asthma + Lung UK Scotland are bringing together politicians, healthcare professionals and people with COPD together at a Scottish Parliament roundtable to focus on how to improve the lives of people with the condition and keep them out of hospital, particularly over the winter. Public Health Minister Jenni Minto MSP will be taking part.
Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, said:
“If you have a lung condition like COPD, winter can be difficult. The best thing you can do to stay out of hospital this winter is to get your flu vaccine.
“Last winter, Scottish flu deaths hit a 45 year high. Vaccinations save lives, reducing the spread of flu and helping your body fight the virus if you do get it so that you are less ill and less likely to need emergency treatment.
“Across Scotland hospitals will be under strain with flu cases expected to peak between early January and mid-February with potential for the number of cases to grow further in the coming weeks.
“We are urging people to also sign up to our tailored health advice emails, to help keep people with lung conditions well this winter.”
If you have COPD, stay warm and try to heat the rooms you spend a lot of time in to at least 18°C. Keeping your home warm and well-ventilated can also help prevent condensation, which can lead to mould and damp.
When you're outside, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth to warm up the air you’re breathing in. Stay inside if it is too cold and windy for you. Protect yourself from colds, flu and viruses by getting your flu jab and other vaccinations you are eligible for, including RSV, COVID-19 and pneumonia, and avoiding people you know are unwell.
Take your medicine as prescribed even if you feel well. If your symptoms get worse, follow your self-management plan if you have one, and make an urgent appointment to see your GP. Do not wait for your symptoms to get better on their own.
To lessen the treat of becoming seriously unwell, the charity has a free Winter Wellness Guide to help people stay well this winter, which can be found here: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/withyouthiswinter
The charity found that 96% of people who signed up last year found their winter health guide useful for managing their lung condition, and 71% of people who downloaded it last year said they felt better able to manage their lung condition through the winter season.
Tish McEwan 73 from Glenrothes was diagnosed with COPD four years ago. She also has idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). She said:
“Winter can be a worrying time if you have a lung condition.
“I make sure that I have all my vaccines and I try to avoid people who are ill, as well as indoor crowded places. I wrap up warm and take steps to try to stay as healthy as possible.
“I’m a member of two Breathe Easy groups, which support people with lung conditions in Fife. Sadly, we often see many people with COPD in the group struggling in winter and being admitted to hospital.”
Reference
- In winter (December to March) 2022/23, there were 5010 emergency COPD hospital admissions, which was 50% higher than in summer (June-August) when there were 3263. Data from NHS Scotland monthly hospital admissions 2022/23 requested by Asthma + Lung UK Scotland.
- Incidence and prevalence of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial lung disease between 2004 and 2023: harmonised analyses of longitudinal cohorts across England, Wales, South-East Scotland and Northern Ireland