A man diagnosed with emphysema and pleural plaques due to asbestos in his lungs has spoken out about his condition.

Robert Crow, who lives in Coalsnaughton, was diagnosed at 55 years old in 2012, is now supported by Strathcarron hospice teams within the community.

He has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties.

Mr Crow said: "It can be scary sometimes when I can't get my breath and difficult to breathe.

"The support we have received from the hospice has been amazing.

"The Strathcarron staff are all gems, I can't sing their praises high enough.

"There is a real calmness to the Strathcarron staff - they really are fantastic.

"The hospice Live Your Life team have been brilliant, and it is good to be able to talk to a real person over the phone when you have questions."

Mr Crow is also part of the men's online community group, 'The Happy Mondays', where members meet via Zoom.

He said: "I have been part of the group for a year now and really look forward to it.

"We have built up nice friendships even though we are all spread out across various locations.

"I get a lot of enjoyment from our catch ups, hearing everyone's news.

"There is a level of understanding there which is supportive as we can share our experiences about our illnesses and the challenges we are having."

The hospice's allied health professionals team has suggested several ways to ease symptoms of breathlessness for those suffering from similar conditions.

They recommend using a handheld fan to cool the face, as this is thought to send signals to the brain that reduces the feeling of breathlessness.

The hospice stresses the importance of planning and pacing activities.

Activities should be managed ‘little and often’, with regular breaks to manage breathing.

You can try make adaptations to your environment that can make daily activities easier to manage.