People who have underlying respiratory conditions such as COPD, lung cancer and asthma, have been advised to take extra precautions during the coronavirus outbreak to look after their health and wellbeing.

If you currently have one of the above conditions, or any other illness affecting your airways, lungs or immune system, below outlines some guidance as to how coronavirus could impact your health if you were to catch it, and how you can prevent this from happening.

It is important for everyone (not just those who have a respiratory condition) to follow up to date government advise, maintain high hygiene standards and maintain distance from others where possible.

COPD (Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis)

These lung diseases are known as ‘obstructive’ diseases, as they block normal airflow into the lungs and breathing capacity as a result.

Most patients with COPD will be aware of the tell-tale signs that they may be experiencing a bad flare up of their illness. This may include severe breathlessness which gets worse and an increased frequency of coughing (which may produce some phlegm which is a different appearance to normal).

If you have COPD and a new cough which is either dry or productive (with phlegm), it can be difficult to tell whether this is a flare-up of COPD or symptoms of the coronavirus. If you are able to measure your temperature at home, the presence of a fever will more so indicate an infection of COVID-19, as usual flare ups are not accompanied by this particular symptom.

Asthma

Those with severe asthma have been identified by the UK government as being at very high risk from COVID-19, should they catch the virus. If you are taking a steroid inhaler, or any other treatment for your asthma, you should visit the asthma.org.uk website to see the most up to date information on shielding and staying safe.

Lung cancer

Cancer patients having active chemotherapy can be at a greater risk of a severe coronavirus infection, because this treatment prevents the bone marrow from producing important immune cells which are key in fighting infection.

Other treatments such as radiotherapy and immunosuppressive drugs can have a similar impact, so it’s worth contacting your health practitioner to find out if you should shield, if you have not yet heard from them or the government via post.

Quitting Smoking

The British Lung Foundation recommends that quitting smoking is ‘vital’, and if you still smoke you should try to stop at this important time. Their website states, “People who smoke are five times more likely to get flu and twice as likely to get pneumonia. Quitting smoking is one of the best ways to protect yourself from viral infections, including coronavirus.

Other advice and where to get support

Many people with the above health conditions will have been advised recently by the government to ‘shield’, and staying active at home, doing the things you love and coming up with creative ways to stay in touch with friends and family from afar are all very important priorities alongside protecting yourself from the virus.

An important note: should you have any concerns about your respiratory condition, physical or mental health, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor and get the support you need. If you experience severe respiratory distress, contact the emergency services.