Kick Asthma Holidays

KAH holiday girl

Find out about our week-long residential adventure breaks for children and young people with asthma 

hot topic

Reply to one or more of Hot Topic questions and we'll send you exclusive Kick-A badges of the Kick-A crew.

Send us your response by filling in the Hot Topic form or sending us an email at kickasthma@asthma.org.uk

Are you worried about swine flu?

I'm not very worried about swine flu although because I’m allergic to egg I have to have a different jab. I haven't had it yet so I’m a bit worried as I’m more prone to it as I have got asthma and allergies.
Katie, 12

I am worried about swine flu. I have had the jab and I advise all people offered it to take it remember CATCH IT BIN IT KILL IT.
Martin, 10

Swine flu is a major issue if you got asthma because it effects people who are the weakest and when you got asthma you are prone to getting colds and viruses so you do worry a lot about getting swine flu but if I keep myself fit and use antibacterial then I will be fine. I heard about the swine flu vaccination and I will be booking one when they come available to asthmatic but although it is bad for us it is worse for pregnant women and older people so were not as bad off as some people.
Alexandra, 14

I think that swine flu is a bad case because it is new, but now I have read about it I think that I am more relaxed about it and know that I have to do what I always do and keep up with medicines.
Chante, 13

My mum and I both got really worried when we found out that swine flu was in the area in which we live. It made my life difficult because i suffer with my asthma and was really worried. I lost contact with some of my friends because swine flu was in the school I attend and I was scared I would get it as I have a low immune system.
Tori, 16 

When swine flu first came about I was very worried, especially to here that is was spreading rapidly. However when looking the flue up on the Internet I found out it wasn’t as bad the normal flue and all types of flue can kill you. After I heard it wasn’t as bad I was more relaxed about the topic. Even though I still carry anti-bacterial hand gel in my handbag wherever I go. Hopefully I wont catch it and I will get that new injection in time.
Emma, 15

I'm not worried but my mum is. She is worried about me and my wee bro getting swine flu and tries to avoid places with it, but it's hit our town now so she keeps asking us ‘are we feeling ok?’ all time which is bit scary.
Tamara, 12

It's back to school time! Does school or exam stress affect your asthma?

My asthma trigger is weather asthma and it causes me a lot of trouble but when it comes to exams it does get worse as I get stressed, it stresses my chest too and I always have to take my pump extra than I normally do and I always take my pump into the exam room with me. It also affects me when I'm doing PE, which slows me down doing running and other things and its hard and awkward when I'm running and have to carry a pump with me around a field.
Alex, 14

Big exam stress affects asthma sometimes.
Shannon, 13

Recently my asthma had been getting better but the last couple of weeks it has got a lot worse. This is causing me to already have missed some time off school when really I have only just got back. I go to dancing and had to sit out yesterday as i struggled with my breathing :( Also i am missing my course work at school for my GCSEs my asthma is always changing! When it just about gets better it goes bad again :(
Emily, 13

It affects my asthma a bit. So on night before the test I wake up and start panting and I have to take my inhaler, but some times i can find my inhaler so it makes the stress worse.
Lucy, 10

Send us your response by filling in the Hot Topic form or sending us an email at kickasthma@asthma.org.uk

Does pollen affect your asthma?

No, my asthma is really good in the summer!
Sebastian, 4

Pollen makes my asthma a lot worse, especially when i do exercise. i love athletics and I do 800m and 1500m but I get a lot more wheezy and out of breath in summer. When I went to an athletics tournament I got really bad and I was wheezing lots and had a horrible cough.
Izzi, 13

Yes, I usually get terrible hayfever and am more prone to coughs and colds in the warm weather, which inevitably, make my asthma worse! In fact, as I'm writing this I keep coughing. I'm a brittle asthmatic, and have had asthma eleven years (since I was 2), though, so I try to ignore the sneezing and get on with everything as usual, which is hard. I think everyone with asthma, whether it is mild or severe, will find high pollen levels difficult to cope with at some point in their life, but some will obviously get more adverse reactions than others.
Olivia, 12

Yep it affects me quite a lot as normally my asthma is not too bad but for the last couple of weeks I have been having a rough time.
Christopher, 10

The pollen makes my asthma a lot worse. I sneeze lots and get a very runny nose and have to take my inhaler more.
Vicky

Yes I have had hayfever for a long time now and the pollen really upsets my chest too. I cough a lot and get wheezy when there is a high pollen count.
Lorna, 17

I find it extremely difficult to enjoy the summer as the pollen (especially grass) makes my asthma and eczema hard to control resulting in frequent attacks. It feels as if the air is thicker and harder to breathe in. The number of times I need to use my nebuliser increases significantly during the summer and all I want to do is be 'normal' and join in with my friends!
Sarah

Pollen does affect asthma.
Sarah, 16

No, which is super lucky but I do get really bad hay fever so bring the runny noses, streaming eyes and non-stop sneezing - oh how I love summer!
Annie, 14

Pollen really affects my asthma. I'm Brazilian and it's winter now. As it's cold I'm feeling really bad. There are some trees near my house that make my asthma worse.
Erica, 29 

Pollen affects my asthma and it gets really annoying when I go outside or do PE
Sarah, 10

I'm allergic to dogs and pollen so my asthma is at its worse during the hayfever season :(
Hanna, 8

No, it does not!
Nicky, 12