A YOUNG woman who lives in Ludlow has been working hard to raise awareness of asthma.

Fern Bowkett, who comes from Tenbury, suffers from ‘brittle asthma,’ which is an especially severe form of the condition.

But experts have warned that the change from summer to autumn can be a particularly difficult time for sufferers from the condition that can be fatal.

Following a scorching Bank Holiday weekend, temperatures are set to drop over the coming days, as summer draws to a close and the autumnal days creep in.

For many, this means a sad goodbye to the summer, but for those who suffer from asthma, the cold weather can be more serious - triggering symptoms and potentially causing an asthma attack.

There are over five million asthma sufferers in the United Kingdom.

Asthma is a condition that causes difficulties in breathing and can be life-threatening and many find triggers increase as the seasons change. Mahmuda Khatun, Medical Expert at Instant eCare explains:

“With the cold weather, damp air can enter the airways and trigger them to go into spasm, resulting in asthma symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest.

“Additionally, there are more mould spores in the air, which can further increase symptoms.”

For asthma sufferers who feel worse as we move into autumn, he has some top tips that will help to deal with the sudden change in temperature.

These include wrapping a scarf around the nose and mouth on a cold and damp morning.

Breathing through the nose instead of the mouth can also heat the air.

Stay indoors if a thunderstorm is forecast, as heightened winds blow mould spores into the air.

Pets can cause an asthma attack and so it is best not to sleep with them in a bedroom.

Always carry an inhaler and any other medication when leaving home.