In this article, Katherine discusses how small changes can have big impacts on creating new habits and supporting health.

In February 2020, the Institute of Health Equity published its landmark report, Marmot Review 10 Years On. It highlighted that for the first time in 100 years, life expectancy has failed to increase across the country, and for the poorest 10% of women it has actually declined.

This article explores the impact of the environment on the health of people with asthma and COPD and focuses on two key areas, indoor (home) and outdoor pollutants and severe weather extremes such as heat waves or very cold weather

Primary care should seek to identify and provide proactive support to older people living with frailty.

In this article, the authors provide a pragmatic consensus approach to calculating and interpreting peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) variability and reversibility from peak flow diary recordings for asthma diagnosis. This guide is intended for healthcare professionals working in primary care.

PCRS welcomes the opportunity that digital respiratory healthcare and the collection and analysis of respiratory data could bring.

In this episode we hear from Rachel Daly, Lead Nurse - Airways, Manchester Airways Service who discuss will the topic of allergic and non-allergic rhinitis with PCRS Executive Chair, Katherine Hickman. 

Exacerbations, or 'flare-ups', can be common occurrences for some individuals with COPD. These are periods when breathing can be difficult, physical activity is harder and inhalers need to be taken more frequently. They may also require admission to hospital.

Keeping physically active is hugely important for anyone, but particularly for individuals with respiratory conditions. Keeping active and healthy reduces strain on the lungs, maintains muscle strength and enhances symptom management over time.

Smoking is the primary cause of COPD and, according to NHS figures, is thought to be responsible for 9 in every 10 cases of the condition.

Ensuring patients follow the correct asthma treatment pathway is vital. People with asthma should have enough knowledge of their asthma to adjust their treatment based on symptoms.

Patients with asthma must received the most suitable treatment for them. This not only promotes better asthma control but also enhances quality of life.

Join Ren Lawlor (Independent Nurse Consultant and Vice-Chair of PCRS) and Steve Holmes (GP and PCRS Committee Member) as they discuss vaping and e-cigarettes.

In this article, the authors review evidence, guidance and current practice to provide a consensus approach to calculating and interpreting peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) variability and reversibility from peak flow diary recordings for asthma diagnosis.

Join Steve Holmes (GP and PCRS Committee Member) and Ren Lawlor (Independent Nurse Consultant and Vice-Chair of PCRS) who give their top tips for smoking cessation. They share their experience of supporting patients with advanced COPD and lung cancer to stop smoking.