Asthma is usually well-controlled with a preventer inhaler and occasional use of a reliever inhaler salbutamol. From time to time, symptoms may flare up and cause an asthma attack – you might be able to identify a trigger or this may come out of the blue. Whether you are the one suffering the attack, or you are on hand to help someone else, this can feel frightening. Forewarned is fore-armed, so it’s important to know what to do, as in some circumstances, this can be life-threatening. Let us arm you with techniques to treat this and help you to recovery.

Experiencing an earache alongside a sore throat can be both uncomfortable and concerning. These symptoms often occur together, leading many to wonder if there is a direct connection between them. The relationship between the ear and throat will give you an understanding of the causes of earache and sore throat. This will help identify the underlying cause and find appropriate treatment. We will explore the common causes of these symptoms, their possible links, and how they might indicate various health conditions. The Link Between the Ear and the Throat Conditions often affect the ear and throat due to their interconnected structures and shared nerve pathways. The tube connecting the middle ear to the throat allows inflammation or infections in the throat to spread to the ear. Shared nerves can transmit pain from one area to the other, leading to referred discomfort. Additionally, the “lymphatic system”, which includes “lymph nodes” in the neck and throat, can cause swelling and tenderness that radiates to the ear. This connection explains why symptoms can simultaneously impact both areas.

What Are Lungworms? Lungworms are tiny parasites (worms) that usually live in the lungs of animals like rats, dogs, and cats. Sometimes, these worms can also accidentally infect humans. The most common type that affects humans is called "rat lungworm" or Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Although these infections are rare in humans, they can cause serious health problems if left untreated. Lungworms have a life cycle that normally involves animals. The worms first live in rats, then move to snails or slugs, and then back to rats. Humans get infected accidentally when they eat something that has lungworm larvae (baby worms) on it. How Do People Get Lungworms? People can get lungworm infections in several ways: Eating unwashed produce: If you eat fruits or vegetables that haven't been washed properly and have tiny snails, slugs, or their slime on them Eating undercooked food: Eating raw or undercooked snails, slugs, or other carriers. Drinking contaminated water: Water that has lungworm larvae in it Travelling to certain areas: Infections are more common in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

As autumn settles in and temperatures begin to drop, you should start thinking seriously about flu season. While the flu typically reaches its peak between December and February in the Northern Hemisphere, the timing can shift based on weather patterns and your geographic location. Climate factors such as humidity levels and temperature fluctuations influence when and how severely the flu virus circulates in your community. This variability makes early preparation even more crucial for protecting yourself and your loved ones. Most people dread the flu, and for good reasons. You probably picture the classic scene: someone lying in bed, feeling miserable, with a thermometer hanging from their mouth, surrounded by crumpled tissues and an array of medications. The reality of influenza extends far beyond this stereotypical image – it can knock you out of commission for a week or more, force you to miss important work deadlines, family gatherings, or special events, and in severe cases, lead to serious complications requiring hospitalisation. However, you don't have to resign yourself to this fate. Medical experts have identified proven strategies that can help you prevent the flu entirely or significantly reduce its impact if you do contract it. Understanding the Flu Before diving into prevention strategies, you should understand precisely what you're up against. Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by flu viruses that infect your nose, throat, and sometimes your lungs. The virus can cause mild to severe illness, and in some cases, it can lead to death. You might experience symptoms such as fever, cough, body aches, headache, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and fatigue. Some people, particularly children, may also experience vomiting and diarrhoea. You should know that flu viruses are constantly changing, which is why you can get the flu more than once and why scientists must update vaccines annually. Two main types of flu viruses cause seasonal epidemics: influenza A and influenza B. Influenza A viruses are further classified by two proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). You've probably heard of strains like H1N1 or H3N2 – these designations refer to different combinations of these surface proteins. The flu spreads primarily through respiratory droplets that travel through the air when infected people cough, sneeze, or talk. You can also catch the flu by touching a surface or object contaminated with flu viruses and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes. People can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. This means you could be spreading the virus before you even realise you're ill, making prevention strategies even more critical.

It can feel scary when your child is having breathing problems, and difficult to know when to wait and see, and when to know that they are really struggling. Let’s talk you through the tell-tale signs we, as doctors, look for that indicate a child’s breathing is a concern. Signs your child is struggling to get air in include a grunting sound or nodding their head with each breath, if they flare their nostrils or purse their lips to breathe. You might notice the muscles under their ribs are being sucked inwards or their tummy goes out to help them draw air in. Signs of life-threatening difficulty are any episodes where they stop breathing for 20 seconds or longer, they become pale or blue around the lips, or they have a fit or become unresponsive. They may be breathing very fast, but it is also important if they start looking very tired from the work of breathing.

While most of us know that there are no benefits to smoking, it can be difficult to stop. Some people think stopping is all about willpower, and they insist on going cold turkey to give up – but experience tells us that they are more likely to return to smoking in future, and only 3 in 100 of smokers who try to quit in this way actually succeed. The good news is that there are several tried and tested methods that will help you quit smoking, but it’s always worth taking the time to understand the hold cigarettes have on us first. Why is it so hard to quit smoking? Smoking tobacco is highly addictive due to the nicotine element that it contains. Nicotine affects the brain in a way that releases endorphins in the brain. These are ‘feel good’ chemicals that make us feel happy and are highly addictive, creating cravings for them once their nicotine trigger has stopped. This temporary high is a hefty price to pay for the cost of smoking to the body. In the UK, almost 100,000 people die from smoking-related diseases every year, and there are over half a million hospital admissions due to smoking annually. Smoking takes a mental hold on us, providing a psychological crutch that’s hard to give up. Daily smoking can become a habit – a ritual around drinking, morning coffee, work breaks and nights out. It can take at least 60 days to break such a habit, which is why relapses occur so often for those trying to quit smoking. To quit for good, smokers must adjust their lifestyle completely, ensuring that it is no longer a part of their routine and daily activities, and is not used to comfort low mood, anxiety, depression or boredom. So, let’s talk through how to quit smoking, including some tried and tested methods to put you in the best position to quit and stay that way.

Spacer chamber devices, or spacers as they’re referred to, work to deliver the medicine in your inhaler directly to the lungs, to help alleviate symptoms in those with asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, usually requires inhalers to keep symptoms under control and allow you to go about your daily activities. Sometimes the lungs can get irritated and inflamed, leading to a flare-up, or what we call, an acute exacerbation of COPD. As you learn to manage your condition, you might notice predictable triggers – the flu, a chest infection, cold weather, a smoky environment – or there may be no obvious cause. It’s important to recognise when it’s not just a bad breathing day, but a COPD flare-up, and what action to take.

Asthma is a long-term condition causing inflammation of the airways. Most people have a mild form, and symptoms are kept at bay through regular medication to dampen down inflammation. Occasionally people get flare-ups, where symptoms come back, and this may require stronger treatment. Once you are on the right treatment for you, and you have an asthma plan that tells you when to increase or decrease doses, most people go on to lead a normal life – able to exercise, work and enjoy family life.