NAC CARES Virtual Challenge - 418.5 miles (673.54km down)
The NAC CARES Team are 30 days into their 100-day challenge to travel the length of the UK from Land End to John O' Groats (LEJOG). The last 30 days have seen the team run, cycle and walk to rack up the miles for the 1,084 mile (1,743km) challenge.
The team is outside Coventry and virtually passed through many well-known landmarks, including Stratford-Upon-Avon, The Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre, Oxford and Kenilworth Castle. The beauty of a virtual challenge is that even with the impending cold weather forecast, the team can still check off the miles on treadmills and indoor bikes so, in the words of a Disney Princess, let it snow!
The work of the Fungal Infection Trust (FIT) improves awareness, treatment and outcomes for all those affected by fungal disease. FIT is a small charity who have, over the years, supported the work of the NAC CARES Team, allowing them to maintain their unique work. Every pound raised will help the Trust continue to help people around the world. You can read more about their work here.
To donate, visit here.
Accessing GP services
Changes to GP contracts for 2023/2024 mean patients should be able to access appointments without enduring the 8am scramble and subsequent telephone queue we are all so very used to.
The new GP contract was published on Monday, 6 March by NHS England and will be in place from next month. The change is part of NHS England's goal to ensure equitable and consistent patient access. The contract states that:
'Patients should be offered an assessment of need, or signposted to an appropriate service, at first contact with the practice. Practices will therefore no longer be able to request that patients contact the practice at a later time.'
While the contract's wording does not elaborate on an appropriate service, this will likely mean telephone and in-person appointments, referral to pharmacists for minor illnesses, physiotherapists for muscular skeletal issues, or Accident and Emergency Departments for more urgent health concerns.
The contract change will ensure patients can access timely and appropriate care, but it will no doubt take time for practices to implement the changes.
NAC CARES Virtual Challenge - Week 2
The NAC CARES Team are seventeen days into their virtual Lands End To John O'Groats (LEJOG) challenge, and this last week has seen them cover a further 65.86 miles (106.1km). This means the team have covered a total of 227.29 miles (365.80km), equating to 1/5 of the total distance.
This week's miles were dedicated to aspergillosis patient Ian Stratton, an avid runner with Brackla Harriers who recently passed away.
This week's collective effort has again been achieved with team walks, trail, road and treadmill running, and more long hours on static bikes. This week's virtual landmark was the stunning Durdle Door, a natural limestone arch on the Jurassic Coast near Lulworth in Dorset, England.
The virtual challenge, which the team began on World Aspergillosis Day 2023 (February 1st), covers the length of the UK and will see the team run, cycle and walk a total of 1,084 miles (1,743km).
The goal is to complete the distance in 100 days and to raise just £1 for every km travelled.
If you would like to read more about the Fungal Infection Trust (FIT), which the team are fundraising for, and donate, then follow the link https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/LEJOG-for-Aspergillosis
NAC CARES Virtual Challenge - Week 1
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It has been ten days since the NAC CARES Team embarked on their virtual Lands End To John O'Groats (LEJOG) challenge. The virtual challenge, which the team began on World Aspergillosis Day 2023 (February 1st), covers the length of the UK and will see the team run, cycle and walk a total of 1,084 miles (1,743km).
The goal is to complete the distance in 100 days and to raise just £1 for every km travelled.
The first ten days have already seen the team cover 14% of the distance; that is 161.4 miles (259.70km), and they are ahead of schedule by a whopping 68.48 miles (110.2km)! The collective effort has been achieved with walks, running, and long hours on static bikes and treadmills. Check out some of the areas we have passed below, and let us know if you live nearby!
The team will be dedicating the next week of miles and km to aspergillosis patient Ian Stratton, an avid runner with Brackla Harriers who recently passed away.
If you would like to read more about the Fungal Infection Trust (FIT) which the team are fundraising for, and donate, then follow the link https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/LEJOG-for-Aspergillosis
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The importance of detecting cancer early
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Our focus at the National Aspergillosis Centre is to raise awareness and support those with aspergillosis. Still, it is vital as an NHS organisation that we raise awareness of other conditions because, sadly, a diagnosis of aspergillosis does not make you impervious to everything else, and a chronic illness has the potential to mask the symptoms of other conditions like cancer.
The ever-growing pressure on the NHS, increased waiting times, a growing reluctance amongst many to seek medical attention, and a lack of understanding of the common symptoms of many cancers are all factors that can lead to an extended diagnostic interval, which in turn reduces treatment options. Therefore, earlier recognition of symptoms by patients is crucial in mitigating other factors that delay diagnosis.
It is important to note that not all alarm symptoms are cancer. Still, cancer incidence and mortality projections estimate that 1 in 2 people in the UK will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime(1), so last week at our monthly patient meeting, we talked about cancer and the most common symptoms. Inspired by the incredible work of the late Dame Deborah James on raising awareness and breaking down the taboo attached to bowel cancer, we have compiled the content from that talk into one article.
What is Cancer?
Cancer starts in our cells.
Usually, we have just the right number of each type of cell. This is because cells produce signals to control how much and how often the cells divide.
If any of these signals are faulty or missing, cells might start to grow and multiply too much and form a lump called a tumour.
Cancer Research UK, 2022
Cancer Statistics
- Every two minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer.
- Breast, prostate, lung and bowel cancers together accounted for over half (53%) of all new cancer cases in the UK in 2016-2018.
- Half (50%) of people diagnosed with cancer in England and Wales survive their disease for ten years or more (2010-11).
- Cancer is the cause of 27-28% of all deaths in England in a typical year.
Experts believe abdominal cancers - throat, stomach, bowel, pancreatic, ovarian - and urological cancers - prostate, kidney and bladder - are the most likely to go unrecognised.
The above chart shows cancer diagnoses by stage for some cancers in 2019 (the most current data). The stage of cancer relates to the size of the tumour and how far it has spread. Diagnosis at a later stage is related to lower survival.
Breast Cancer - Symptoms
- A lump or thickening in the breast which is different to the rest of the breast tissue
- Continuous breast pain in one part of the breast or armpit
- One breast becomes larger or lower/higher than the other breast
- Changes to the nipple - turning inward or changes shape or position
- Puckering or dimpling to the breast
- Swelling under the armpit or around the collarbone
- A rash on or around the nipple
- Discharge from one or both nipples
For more information visit:
https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer
Kidney Cancer - Symptoms
- Blood in the urine
- Low back pain on one side not through injury
- A lump on the side or lower back
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fever that is not caused by an infection and that doesn't go away
For more information visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-cancer/symptoms/
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/kidney-cancer/symptoms
Lung cancer
The symptoms of lung cancer can be particularly hard to differentiate for patients with aspergillosis. It is important to report any new symptoms, such as a change to a long-term cough, weight loss and chest pain to your GP or specialist consultant.
Symptoms
- A persistent cough that doesn't go away after 2/3 weeks
- A change in your long-term cough
- Increased and persistent breathlessness
- Coughing up blood
- An ache or pain in the chest or shoulder
- Repeated or persistent chest infection
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Hoarsness
For more information visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lung-cancer
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/lung-cancer
Ovarian Cancer - Symptoms
- Persistent bloating
- Feeling full quickly
- Loss of appetite
- Changes in bowel habits
- Unexplained weight loss
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Needing to wee more frequently
- Fatigue
For more information visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ovarian-cancer/
Pancreatic Cancer
Some of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer can closely resemble those of bowel conditions such as irritable bowel. See your GP if your symptoms change, get worse, or do not feel normal for you.
Symptoms
- Yellowing to the whites of your eyes or skin (jaundice)
- Itchy skin, darker pee and paler poo than usual
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Fever
Other symptoms can affect your digestion, such as:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Changes in bowel habits
- Stomach and/or back pain
- Indigestion
- Bloating
For more information visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pancreatic-cancer
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/pancreatic-cancer
https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/
Prostate Cancer - Symptoms
- Urinating more frequently, often during the night (nocturia)
- Increased urgency to urinate
- Urine hesitancy (difficulty starting to urinate)
- Difficulty in passing urine
- Weak flow
- Feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully
- Blood in urine or semen
For more information visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer
Skin Cancer
Patients who are on antifungal medication are at an increased risk of developing skin cancer, therefore it is important to understand the symptoms and take adequate precautions with sun exposure to reduce the risk.
Symptoms
There are three main types of skin cancer:
- Malignant Melanoma
- Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
Broadly, the signs are (shown in the image below):
BCC
- Flat, raised or dome-shaped spot
- Pearly or skin-coloured
SCC
- Raised, crusty or scaly
- Sometimes ulcerated
Melanoma
- An abnormal mole that is asymmetrical, irregular and has multiple colours
For more information visit:
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/skin-cancer
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/melanoma-skin-cancer/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/non-melanoma-skin-cancer/
Throat Cancer
Throat cancer is a general term that means cancer that starts in the throat, however, Doctors don't generally use it. This is because there are different types of cancer which can affect the area of the throat.
More information can be found here: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/head-and-neck-cancer/throat-cancer
General symptoms
- Sore throat
- Ear pain
- Lump in the neck
- Difficulty swallowing
- Change in your voice
- Unexplained weight loss
- A cough
- Shortness of breath
- A feeling of something stuck in the throat
For more information visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/head-and-neck-cancer/
Bladder Cancer - Symptoms
- Increased urination
- Urgency to urinate
- A burning sensation when passing urine
- Pelvic pain
- Flank pain
- Abdominal pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- Leg swelling
For more information visit:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bladder-cancer/
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bladder-cancer
Bowel Cancer - Symptoms
- Bleeding from the bottom and/or blood in poo
- A persistent and unexplained change in bowel habit
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- A pain or lump in the stomach
For more information visit:
https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer
(1)Smittenaar CR, Petersen KA, Stewart K, Moitt N. Cancer incidence and mortality projections in the UK until 2035. Br J Cancer 2016 Oct 25;115(9):1147-1155
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Drug Induced Photosensitivity
What is drug-induced photosensitivity?
Photosensitivity is the abnormal or heightened reaction of the skin when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. This leads to skin that has been exposed to the sun without protection becoming burnt, and in turn, this can increase the risk of developing skin cancer.
There are several medical conditions like lupus, psoriasis and rosacea that can increase a person's sensitivity to ultraviolet light. A more comprehensive list of known conditions can be found here.
Drug-induced photosensitivity is the most common type of skin-related adverse drug reaction and can occur as a result of topical and oral medications. Reactions happen when a component of the medication combines with UV radiation during sun exposure, causing a phototoxic reaction that appears as severe sunburn, identified by swelling, itchiness, profuse redness and in the worst cases, blistering and oozing.
Patients taking antifungal medications, in particular, Voriconazole and Itraconazole (the former being more widely known for causing reactions), are often aware of the increased risks of photosensitivity; however, these are not the only drugs that can induce an abnormal response to UV exposure. Other drugs that have been reported to cause photosensitivity are:
- NSAIDs (Ibuprofen (oral and topical), naproxen, aspirin)
- Cardiovascular medication (furosemide, ramipril, amlodipine, nifedipine, amiodarone, clopidogrel – just a few)
- Statins (simvastatin)
- Psychotropic drugs (olanzapine, clozapine, fluoxetine, citalopram, sertraline – just a few)
- Antibacterial medications (ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, doxycycline)
It is essential to note that the above list is not exhaustive, and reported reactions range from rare to frequent. If you think a medication other than your antifungal is causing a reaction to the sun, speak to your pharmacist or GP.
How to protect yourself
In most cases, patients can't stop taking the medication that can predispose them to photosensitivity. Staying out of the sun isn't always possible either - quality of life is always an important consideration; therefore, extra care should be taken to protect their skin while outside.
There are two types of protection:
- Chemical
- Physical
Chemical protection is in the form of sunscreen and sunblock. However, it is important to remember that sunscreen and sunblock are not the same. Sunscreen is the most common type of sun protection, and it works by filtering the sun's UV rays, but some still get through. Sunblock reflects the rays away from the skin and prevents them from penetrating it. When buying sunscreen, look for a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or above to protect against UVB and at least a UVA protection rating of 4 stars.
Physical protection
- NHS guidance advises staying in the shade when the sun is strongest, which in the UK is between 11am and 3pm from March to October
- Use a sunshade or umbrella
- A wide-brimmed hat that shades the face, neck and ears
- Long-sleeved tops, trousers and skirts made of close-weave fabrics that stop sunlight from penetrating
- Sunglasses with wraparound lenses and wide arms that conform to the British Standard
- UV protective clothing
Links to further information
Medical Alert Paraphernalia
[et_pb_section fb_built="1" admin_label="section" _builder_version="4.16" global_colors_info="{}" theme_builder_area="post_content" custom_padding="2px||2px||true|false"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" _builder_version="4.16" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}" theme_builder_area="post_content"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.16" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||" theme_builder_area="post_content"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" _builder_version="4.16" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}" theme_builder_area="post_content"]Medical identification items such as bracelets are designed to inform healthcare professionals of conditions that may impact treatment in an emergency where you cannot speak for yourself.
If you have a chronic condition, food or drug allergies, or take medications such as long-term steroids or anticoagulants, they may alter the treatment you might receive, and it is imperative that healthcare professionals know and can act accordingly. In a situation where you may be unconscious or unable to speak, a medical alert can provide vital information regarding conditions, medications and next-of-kin.
What medical alert items are available?
Many different medical alert items are available, the most common being a bracelet that is worn and easily identified in an emergency.
There are a number of reputable online companies where you can purchase a medical alert bracelet, a couple of which are listed below. Please ensure when purchasing online that the company is legitimate and that their jewellery will be recognised by the healthcare professionals.
https://www.medicalert.org.uk/collections/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Medic-Alert-Bracelets/s?k=Medic+Alert+Bracelets
Lions Club Message in a Bottle
Lions Clubs Message in a Bottle is a simple but effective way for people to keep their basic personal and medical details where they can be found in an emergency on a standard form and in a common location – the fridge.
Message in a Bottle (known within Lions as MIAB) helps emergency services personnel to save valuable time in identifying an individual very quickly and knowing if they have any allergies or take special medication.
Paramedics, police, firefighters and social services support this Lions life-saving initiative and know to look in the fridge when they see the Message in Bottle stickers supplied. The initiative provides peace of mind that prompt and appropriate medical assistance can be provided, and next of kin/emergency contacts can be notified.
How to obtain a Message in a Bottle
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Advice for patients on long-term steroid treatment
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Are you on long-term steroid treatment?
Patients who take long-term (greater than three weeks) oral, inhaled, or topical steroids for medical conditions, are at risk of developing secondary adrenal insufficiency (resulting in very low cortisol levels) and becoming steroid-dependent (to artificially replace cortisol).
The omission of steroids for these patients can result in an adrenal crisis as they no longer produce their own cortisol, which is a medical emergency that if left untreated can be fatal. For example, if a steroid-dependent patient had a road accident and was admitted to A&E without medical staff knowing that they needed daily steroid medication (such as if they were unconscious or otherwise unable to communicate) then they would be at high risk of adrenal crisis.
NOTE: it is often desirable for a patient to reduce their dose of oral steroids in order to minimise adverse effects and symptoms. If this is achieved the steroid-dependent patient can be switched to a form of oral steroid that should be less prone to adverse effects (i.e. hydrocortisone) in order to prevent them from going into adrenal crisis.
Cortisol is also part of your body's system to cope with stress. Consequently, if you are steroid-dependent on e.g. hydrocortisone you will need an increased dose if your stress levels increase - this can be caused by many things including infection, becoming acutely ill, suffering trauma, or undergoing surgery for example.
To ensure clinical staff are always aware of the risk of adrenal crisis, consequently the new national guidance was issued in August 2020 which promotes a new patient-held Steroid Emergency Card to help healthcare workers identify patients with adrenal insufficiency and provide information on emergency treatment if the patient presents in an emergency. The card also provides details of the prescriber, drug, dosage, and duration of treatment.
Where can patients get a steroid card?
Cards can be obtained from GPs, hospital teams and community pharmacies. More information can be found here.
The card can also be downloaded as a PDF, and added as a lock screen to mobile devices. Learn more from the Addison’s Disease Self-Help Group.
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Vaccine Types
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Vaccines. Something most, if not all of us, are familiar with. MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella), TB (Tuberculosis), Smallpox, Chicken Pox, and the more recent HPV (Human Papillomavirus) and Covid-19 vaccines are just a few of the many available to protect us from harmful pathogens (an organism that causes disease like bacteria or viruses – aka 'germs'). But what exactly is a vaccine, and how does it protect us?
Firstly, to understand vaccines, it helps to have a fundamental understanding of the immune system. The immune system is the body's natural defence against harmful pathogens. It is a complex system of organs and cells that work together to help fight off infection caused by invading pathogens. When a 'germ' enters our body, the immune system triggers a series of responses to identify and destroy it.
Outward signs we are having an immune response are:
- A raised temperature (fever) and uncontrollable shivering (Rigors).
- Inflammation; this can be internal or visible on the skin's surface – for example, from a cut.
- Coughing & Sneezing (mucus traps germs, which are then removed by the action of coughing or sneezing).
Types of immunity:
Innate (also called nonspecific or natural) immunity: We are born with a combination of physical (skin and mucous membranes in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts), chemical (for example, stomach acid, mucous, saliva and tears contain enzymes that breakdown the cell wall of many bacteria1), and cellular (natural killer cells, macrophages, eosinophils are just a few2) defences against pathogens. Innate immunity is a type of general protection designed to immediately respond to the presence of a pathogen.
Adaptive immunity: The adaptive, or acquired, immune response is more specific to an invading pathogen and occurs after exposure to an antigen (a toxin or foreign substance which induces an immune response) either from a pathogen or vaccination.3
Below is an excellent video from TedEd that provides a simple yet detailed explanation of how the immune system works.
Types of vaccines
There are several different types of vaccines that use various mechanisms to 'teach' our immune systems how to fight off specific pathogens. These are:
Inactivated vaccines
Inactivated vaccines use a version of the pathogen that has been killed. These vaccines generally require several doses or boosters for immunity to be ongoing. Examples include Flu, Hepatitis A and Polio.
Live-attenuated vaccines
A live-attenuated vaccine uses a weakened live version of the pathogen, mimicking natural infection without causing serious disease. Examples include Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Chickenpox.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines
An mRNA vaccine contains no actual part of the pathogen (alive or dead). This new type of vaccine works by teaching our cells how to make a protein that will in turn, trigger an immune response. In the context of Covid-19 (the only mRNA vaccine approved for use in the form of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations), the vaccine instructs our cells in making a protein found on the surface of the Covid-19 virus (the spike protein). This causes our bodies to create antibodies. After delivering the instructions, the mRNA is immediately broken down.4
Subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines
Subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines do not contain any whole bacteria or viruses. These vaccines use a piece from the pathogen's surface —like its protein, to elicit a focused immune response. Examples include Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), Hepatitis B, HPV (Human papillomavirus), Whooping cough (part of the DTaP combined vaccine), Pneumococcal and Meningococcal disease.5
Toxoid vaccines
Toxoid vaccines are used to protect against pathogens that cause the release of toxins. In these cases, it is the toxins that we need to be protected from. Toxoid vaccines use an inactivated (dead) version of the toxin produced by the pathogen to trigger an immune response. Examples include Tetanus and Diphtheria.6
Viral Vector
A viral vector vaccine uses a modified version of a different virus (the vector) to deliver information in the form of a genetic code from a pathogen to our cells. In the case of the AstraZeneca and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccines and Covid-19, for example, this code teaches the body to make copies of the spike proteins – so if exposure to the actual virus occurs, the body will recognise it and know how to fight it off.7
The video below was developed by Typhoidland and The Vaccine Knowledge Project and describes what happens inside our cells when we are infected with a virus - using Covid-19 as the example.
References
- Science Learning Hub. (2010). The body's first line of defence. Available: https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/177-the-body-s-first-line-of-defence Last accessed 18 Nov 2021.
- Khan Academy. (Unknown). Innate Immunity. Available: https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/organ-systems/the-immune-system/a/innate-immunity Last accessed 18 Nov 2021.
- Molnar, C., & Gair, J. (2015). Concepts of Biology – 1st Canadian Edition. BCcampus. Retrieved from https://opentextbc.ca/biology/
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (Nov 2021). Different types of COVID-19 vaccines: How they work. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/different-types-of-covid-19-vaccines/art-20506465 Last accessed 19 Nov 2021.
- Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP). (2021). Vaccine Types. Available: https://www.hhs.gov/immunization/basics/types/index.html Last accessed 16 Nov 2021.
- Vaccine Knowledge Project. (2021). Types of vaccine. Available: https://vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/vk/types-of-vaccine Last accessed 17 Nov 2021.
- CDC. (Oct 2021). Understanding Viral Vector COVID-19 Vaccines. Available: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/viralvector.html#:~:text=First%2C%20COVID%2D19%20viral%20vector,is%20called%20a%20spike%20protein Last accessed 19 Nov 2021.
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Aspergillosis and the benefits of gentle exercise – a patient’s perspective
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Cecilia Williams suffers from aspergillosis in the form of an aspergilloma and Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CPA). In this post, Cecilia talks about how a light but regular exercise regime has helped improve her health and wellbeing.
I downloaded the exercise guide (available here) in September this year. My oxygen levels had been dreadful, and I wanted to do some form of at-home pulmonary rehabilitation. I was surprised that the exercises in the programme were to be undertaken daily, as previous pulmonary programmes at the hospital were only three times a week. However, this programme was a lot simpler.
I do a stretching routine for a few minutes before the exercises, and I have now introduced 2.5kg weights, but I would do them without weights when I first started. I started at the lowest number of reps for the seated and standing exercises and have gradually increased to the recommended sets. I take my time to do the exercises as I can get breathless, and the time it takes depends on the kind of day I’m having. I break the 30-minute step into two; one first thing in the morning and one after lunch. If I go for a walk outside, I just do the other exercises and no step routine. I make a conscious effort to concentrate on my breathing as indicated on the chart. I use the breathing techniques recommended by Phil (National Aspergillosis Centre Specialist Physiotherapist, video available here), which has been my go-to for getting my breathing back to normal.
When I started this programme, my oxygen saturation levels were poor. I was breathless for long periods, and I would suffer all day with terrible nasal congestion and postnasal drip - I was forever steaming with menthol crystals. Incorporating the exercises and breathing techniques into my daily routine (first thing in the morning in my bedroom with the windows open) has had a profound effect. My congestion clears easier without steaming. I can take deeper breaths and hold my breath for longer. I have noticed the time it takes for me to recover from episodes of low oxygen levels and breathlessness has also improved. I do all the exercises on the table; the balance ones are essential, and with time and practice, I am improving - though I haven’t started doing them with my eyes closed – I am not there yet! I hope that writing my account of the benefits even the lightest of exercise programmes has gives others confidence and encouragement to undertake an at-home exercise programme.
If you want to know more about exercising with aspergillosis, our Specialist Physiotherapist Phil Langdon has a talk available via our YouTube channel here.
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