People born in the winter (November to January) suffer asthma and other lung related problems and have a greater likelihood of breathing problems as adults than those born in warmer months, a study found. Other factors that make the lungs worse in older age are respiratory infections as a child, being born to an older mother and having a mother who smokes, the Daily Mail reported. Having a pet as a child made people more likely to have stronger lungs, as did having older brothers and sisters, the study found. Cecilia Svanes, of the department of Global Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Bergen in Norway and colleagues analyzed data relating to more than 12,000 people. Looking at the likelihood of lung problems and respiratory conditions in old age, the authors found ‘a more rapid lung function decline was associated with season of birth’.
