Doctor's 'Urgent help' warning as UKHSA issues cold health' alert

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Dr Matt Swallow said the cold snap presented a litany of health concerns

When you stepped outside this morning, it’s likely you would have felt a brisk chill in the air.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued the first cold-health alert of the winter for the North West and West Midlands, in effect from 9am on Thursday until midday on Saturday. Cold health alerts are usually issued between 1 November and 30 March.

A blast of Arctic air is sweeping the UK, with temperatures expected to be at -5C, if not lower. Sleet and snow will be possible in some far northern locations, with strong wind gusts causing bitter conditions.

But what do these chilly conditions mean for our lungs and should we be concerned? Dr Matt Swallow, clinical lead at Asthma + Lung UK, explains how cold air affects respiratory health and what steps we can take to protect our lungs during the colder months.

“The cold, dry air can irritate and inflame the airways because our lungs really want the air that we’re breathing in to be warm and slightly moist,” says Dr Swallow.

He explains: “Normally when you breathe in through your nose, it warms up the air and slightly humidifies it. However, when the weather is cold you breathe in cold, dry air that can cause irritation and inflammation in the lungs.

“That irritation can then cause the airways to narrow or constrict and can cause symptoms coughing, wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness or increased mucus production.”

He adds another issue is that winter also brings about an increased circulation of respiratory viruses like influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Covid-19 and common cold viruses.

“Flu, influenza, in particular appears to survive and remain infectious for longer in cold conditions,” says Dr Swallow. "These respiratory viruses can trigger flare-ups of underlying lung conditions.”

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