Useful tools and applications
Are you interested in finding out more about Respiratory Health and Research?
In RIW we are continuing to build a strong all Wales Respiratory Network involving the NHS, Industry, Academia and importantly Respiratory Patients and their Carers.
Developing and offering an integrated system, will allow Wales to compete with some of the best centres across the UK attracting more research and development investment, which will benefit the health and economic prospects of the people of Wales.
There are different ways that you can get involved. You can:
- become an active research subject in a clinical trial or
- be involved in the provision of education and training programmes or
- be a member of the Respiratory Advisory Group and/or wider network.
If you would like to get involved and kept updated regarding our work, we would really like to hear from you.
The main conditions we can experience
COPD is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs.
Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production and wheezing. It’s typically caused by long-term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter, most often from cigarette smoke. People with COPD are at increased risk of developing heart disease, lung cancer and a variety of other conditions.
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common conditions that contribute to COPD. These two conditions usually occur together and can vary in severity among individuals with COPD.
For more information please see: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
People with asthma have swollen (inflamed) and “sensitive” airways that can become narrow and clogged with sticky mucus. These can respond to certain triggers e.g. smoke.
For further information about Asthma, please see: Asthma – Causes – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Long COVID is a term used to describe signs and symptoms that continue or develop after COVID‑19.
It includes both ongoing symptoms of COVID‑19 (4-12 weeks) and post‑COVID‑19 syndrome (over 12 weeks).
Getting support for recovery from COVID-19 (long COVID) | GOV.WALES
Things can influence respiratory health
Air pollution results from the introduction of a range of substances into the atmosphere. Air pollution can have both short term and long term effects on health, but also on the wider environment. 
For more information about air quality in Wales please see the link here: About Air Quality | Air Quality In Wales (gov.wales)
If you’re thinking about stopping smoking, there’s no better time to quit than now. We are still operating during Covid-19 and are here to support you every step of your smokefree journey. Whilst our face-to-face services are not currently available, you can still receive support from Help Me Quit over the phone with access to free stop smoking medication.
Breathing in diesel fumes can affect your health, and exposure to the fumes can cause irritation of your eyes or respiratory tract. These effects are generally short term and should disappear when you are away from the source of exposure. However, prolonged exposure to diesel fumes, in particular to any blue or black smoke (diesel soot), could lead to coughing, chestiness and breathlessness.
There is some evidence that repeated exposure to diesel fumes over a period of about 20 years may increase the risk of lung cancer. Exposure to petrol engine exhaust emissions does not have the same risk.
If you think that your health is being affected by exposure to diesel fumes, you should tell your employer (eg supervisor) and/or safety representative, and consult your doctor
Source: Diesel engine exhaust emissions INDG286 (hse.gov.uk)
If you have damp and mould in your home you’re more likely to be at risk of respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system.
Can damp and mould affect my health? – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
How to control household damp and mould Condensation, damp & mould | Centre for Sustainable Energy (cse.org.uk)
Long COVID is a term used to describe signs and symptoms that continue or develop after COVID‑19.
It includes both ongoing symptoms of COVID‑19 (4-12 weeks) and post‑COVID‑19 syndrome (over 12 weeks).
Getting support for recovery from COVID-19 (long COVID) | GOV.WALES
Information videos
Other videos
Mobile phone/tablet applications
Apple - iphone/ipad
Android - phone/tablet
Get in touch with us about Respiratory Innovation Wales and the services we can offer you.
