Love Your Lungs Week: Take a Breath for Your Health
- Healthwatch Southend
- Jun 29
- 2 min read
It's time to highlight lung health and encourage people to protect their lungs.
Around one in five people in the UK will develop a lung condition during their lifetime.
In Southend-on-Sea, lung conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), pneumonia and lung cancer are a particular concern, with rates higher than the national average.
Lung conditions affect people of all ages. Some are preventable, while others are inherited or develop without a clear cause. Common conditions include asthma, COPD, emphysema and lung cancer.
Looking after your lungs
Simple lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk and keep your lungs healthy:
Stop smoking or vaping. Quitting is one of the best things you can do for your lungs, and improvements can begin within weeks.
Stay active with activities such as walking, cycling or swimming to strengthen your lungs and improve overall health.
Protect yourself at work by wearing appropriate protective equipment if you're exposed to dust, chemicals or fumes.
Keep your home free from damp, mould and excess dust.
Check air quality and limit strenuous outdoor activity when pollution levels are high.
Risk factors include: Smoking and vaping, lack of regular physical activity, air pollution, allergens such as pollen and dust mites and exposure to asbestos, chemical fumes and mould.
The weather may also contribute to worsening symptoms of a lung condition. Heatwaves increase the bodys need for oxygen which could cause airway inflammation, significantly worsening conditions like asthma, COPD.
When to seek help
See your GP if you have a cough lasting more than three weeks, ongoing breathlessness, chest pain or repeated chest infections. Early diagnosis can improve treatment and help prevent complications.
At Healthwatch Southend, we're committed to helping local people find reliable health information and access the support they need and amplifying your voice about your experience of local health and social care services, contact us or fill in a feedback form today.
Support in Southend
NHS pulmonary rehabilitation: accessed by referral from GP or other medical specialist - see the website for more information.
Everyone Health run free stop smoking support programme and healthy lifestyle advice and groups.
The local Breathe easy support group for information and peer support.
Visit the Asthma + Lung UK website for trusted advice and practical information.
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