All Policies Include Coronavirus Cover
Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30
Coronavirus FAQs
Questions about cover for coronavirus? Read our FAQs and find out what our policies can do for you. If you would like to contact us, please note we are currently only available 09:00 to 17:30 Monday to Friday due to reduced operational capacity. Thank you.
11 December 2014 08:17
Asthma: a debilitating condition that is difficult to diagnose
Scientists have claimed a new scan could reveal whether asthma sufferers' medication is working.
It could also help to detect what is traditionally a difficult condition to diagnose, as well as being cheaper and more accurate.
The new test developed by King's College London follows the progression of a patient's white-coloured blood cells across their lungs.
Having asthma need not deter people from taking a holiday. Securing tailor-made asthma travel insurance can give them peace of mind should they require a change of medication or treatment after an attack.
What's the research?
The new test is based on how swiftly the eosinophil white blood cells spread across the lungs.
These react to pollutants, allergens and other irritants through generating toxic chemicals, whose accumulation leads to inflamed airways.
These cells somehow respond more readily to such irritants in asthma sufferers.
Slower-moving eosinophil cells imply that more have spread to the region, meaning the increased likelihood of lungs being inflamed.
KCL tested this by taking blood samples from 16 volunteers: 12 had asthma - including four without symptoms - and four were healthy.
Using radioactive substances, gamma cameras and injections, scientists observed that cells passed through healthy lungs in four minutes.
The same kind of cells passed through asthma-hit lungs, including those without symptoms, in six minutes.
What do the scientists say?
KCL's Joanna Lukawska said such a test could be cheaper, more accurate and not so labour-intensive. She said that slow-moving eosinophil cells could show that asthma patients are not responding to steroids and prompt a switch to other drugs, including mepolizumab.
What does Asthma UK say?
The results have encouraged Asthma UK's Samantha Walker. They could further progress the creation of reliable asthma diagnostic tests, Dr Walker believes.
What is asthma?
One in 12 Britons (5.4 million) suffer from asthma. The condition leave sufferers' airways inflamed and constricted. These get clogged with mucus when they come into contact with triggers, including dust or pollen.
17 March 2020
Escape it all with a visit to one of the world's hidden island gems.
[more...]
02 July 2021
It's time for some Mediterranean sun and unforgettable sights. Here are five of our favourite must-sees in Malta.
Take your pick of the best beaches in Portugal, spanning more than 500 miles of the Portuguese coastline.
Holidays are back but not quite as we know them. Here's a quick guide to what to expect when travelling to and from green list countries.
28 February 2020
From tulip-filled trips to rose-tinged rests, these destinations are the perfect way to see in the new season.
04 January 2021
Join us on a journey to Ancient Greece to discover more about history's most revered statue.
Head north for a light show like no other. Discover how you can see the Northern Lights for yourself.
Discover more about the magnificent waterfall perched on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
10 December 2020
Don't sleep on the world's most impressive dormant volcano.
A destination that stands head and shoulders above the rest.
19 November 2020
Take a tour of one of South America's most captivating natural landscapes.
Discover the hidden depths of the world's most recognisable desert gorge.