For most people, a hot summer’s day is uncomfortable. For someone with scarred lungs, it can become a medical risk.

People living with interstitial lung disease (ILD) are especially vulnerable during extreme heat. As climate change drives more frequent and intense heatwaves, people with ILD will need better protection from hot weather and related health risks.

ILD is an umbrella term for more than 200 lung conditions. These conditions cause inflammation, the body’s immune response to injury or irritation, and fibrosis, which means lung scarring. As scar tissue builds up, the lungs become stiffer and less able to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream, making breathing harder.

Many ILDs, particularly idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) – a form of lung scarring that develops without a clear known cause – affect people over 65. Older adults with ILD often also live with other long-term conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or chronic kidney disease. These can reduce the body’s ability to cope with stresses such as extreme heat.

Hot weather forces the body to work harder to stay cool. The heart pumps more blood towards the skin, breathing can become more difficult, and oxygen demand may increase. For people with ILD, whose lungs already struggle to supply enough oxygen, this can lead to worsening breathlessness, fatigue and reduced exercise tolerance.

Dehydration, which is common during heatwaves, can cause weakness, dizziness or low blood pressure. This can be a particular........

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