LUNG conditions are very common in the UK, and nearly one in five people live with one.

A change in weather, such as going into autumn or the hot summer we have just had, can exacerbate symptoms.

Dr Zoe Williams helps Jattvibe readers with their health concerns

Dr Zoe also helps a reader whose partner has phlegm in his throat and trouble eating Credit: Getty

So it’s incredibly important to stick to the advice of your management plan, whether it be for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Living with a lung condition can sometimes leave you feeling tired and short of breath, making everyday activities feel harder.

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Techniques, such as paced breathing or breathing out on effort, can be useful for tasks like climbing stairs, lifting or even walking.

They can also help to reduce anxiety, which many people experience when they are short of breath.

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You can find out more by visiting the website of charity Asthma + Lung UK, asthmaandlung.org.uk.

Here’s what readers have been asking me this week…

IS NMN SAFE TO TAKE?

Q) MY brother has been taking the supplement NMN.

The tablets have helped his wellbeing and his skin is glowing, too.

When I asked him to get me some, he was worried as I had previously had breast cancer.

This was 29 years ago, though.

I take pregabalin for nerve pain as the result of a mastectomy, and famotidine.

Do you think it would be OK for me to try NMN also?

A) I can understand why you are tempted, especially when someone close to you says they feel better for taking a supplement.

But I would be cautious about taking NMN in your situation.

NMN stands for nicotinamide mononucleotide. It is marketed as an “anti-ageing” or “cellular energy” supplement because it is involved in making NAD – a molecule cells use for energy, repair and many other ­normal functions.

Interest in NMN is growing, but human evidence is still limited, and the benefits for wellbeing, skin or ­longevity are not firmly proven.

Your brother’s glowing skin and improved wellbeing may be real for him, but that does not automatically mean the supplement caused it, or that it is right for you.

The specific issue with a previous breast cancer is that we do not have enough evidence to confidently say NMN is safe for all cancer survivors.This does not mean it definitely increases cancer risk.

The concern is more theoretical: NAD pathways are involved in cell growth and repair, and cancer biology is complex.

Some researchers have raised questions about whether boosting these pathways could be unhelpful in people with current or previous cancer, although this has not been settled.

The large length of time that has passed since your breast cancer is very reassuring, but I would still suggest checking with your breast cancer follow-up team, GP or pharmacist before trying NMN.

Also check the exact dosage and brand, because supplement quality and strength can vary.

I am not aware of a major direct interaction with pregabalin or famotidine, but absence of a known interaction is not the same as proof of safety.

If you do try it after medical advice, avoid high doses, use one supplement at a time, and stop if you notice new symptoms. Personally, I’d prioritise proven skin and wellbeing basics first: sleep, protein, resistance exercise, SPF, moisturiser and managing nerve pain well.

Q) A BUILD-up of phlegm in his throat and trouble eating are causing problems for my partner.

While the phlegm, especially in the morning, may be unpleasant, the more important symptom is that when my partner is eating, food feels as though it is getting stuck, causing him to choke sometimes, or bring it back up to clear the blockage.

A) This is called dysphagia, which means difficulty swallowing, and it should always be assessed. There are several possible causes.

Sometimes mucus in the throat is linked to post-nasal drip from rhinitis or sinus problems, reflux from the stomach, smoking, allergies or asthma-type conditions.

Reflux can also cause throat clearing, a “lump in the throat” sensation and morning phlegm. But food sticking in the throat is different.

It can happen because of inflammation or narrowing in the oesophagus, a hiatus hernia, scarring from reflux, problems with the muscles that coordinate swallowing or, less commonly, cancer of the throat or oesophagus.

I’m not saying that to frighten you, but because new or persistent swallowing difficulty should not be ignored. He should book a GP appointment and be very clear about what is happening, by telling them:

“Food is getting stuck and I am either ­choking, or bringing it back up.”

The GP may examine his throat and neck, review his reflux symptoms, medication, smoking and alcohol history, but ultimately it sounds as though he will need an urgent referral for tests such as an endoscopy or swallowing assessment.

Seek immediate help sooner if he cannot swallow, is drooling, ­struggling to breathe, coughing after drinks, losing weight, vomiting blood, passing black stools, has a hoarse voice that persists or symptoms are rapidly worsening.

In the meantime, he should eat slowly, chew carefully, avoid very dry foods, sit upright during and after meals, and avoid lying down straight after eating.

But please don’t let this be managed only as “phlegm” – the swallowing problem needs proper review.

Why am I sweating so much at 70?

Dr Zoe helps a reader who had a complete hysterectomy and is experiencing her menopause and can’t stop sweating Credit: Getty

Q) I AM 70 and keep sweating. It started a few months ago and is getting worse. It’s terribly embarrassing.

My GP says it’s the menopause. I had a complete hysterectomy at 38. I’ve had blood tests for the sweat glands, which were normal. I asked them to do a hormone test but was told it wasn’t needed.

A) Hot flushes and sweats can continue for many years after menopause for some, so it is not impossible for hormonal symptoms to still play a part.

But if sweating has started only in the last few months and is getting worse at almost 70, I would not want it simply labelled as “menopausal” without a proper check. If your ovaries were removed as well as your womb and cervix, you would have gone into surgical menopause at 38.

If your ovaries were left behind, they may have continued producing hormones for some years afterwards.

Either way, a hormone blood test at 70 is often not very helpful, because it would usually show post-menopausal levels and not explain why symptoms have changed.

There are many non-menopausal causes of sweating, including thyroid problems, infection, diabetes, or episodes of low-blood sugar, medication side effects, anxiety, alcohol, heart rhythm problems, inflammatory conditions and, more rarely, some cancers. I am not saying this to alarm you, but new drenching or frequent sweats deserve a broader review.

Go back to your GP and explain clearly how often this is happening, whether it is day or night, whether you are soaking clothes or bedding, and whether you have weight loss, fever, cough, palpitations, diarrhoea, pain, swollen glands or fatigue.

It would be reasonable to ask what blood tests have been done and whether any further ones or examinations are needed.

Please don’t feel embarrassed. Sweating can be miserable, but new worsening symptoms at your age deserve a clear explanation and plan.

TIP OF THE WEEK

“RUNNER’S knee” is a condition that causes pain after sitting for a long time, or when you are active, such as walking up stairs.
To counteract it, try a daily strengthening and stretching routine.
Even if you are fit and healthy overall, tight, weak or unbalanced quad or hip muscles could be to blame.