Case study: My four trips to the doctor ...

When the temperatures shot up a few weeks ago, I became one of the country's many victims of heat wave-induced illness.

As a chronic asthmatic I fall into the "vulnerable" category, making me more susceptible to illness than most people.

Although I have kept good health over the past couple of years, my body could not cope with the sudden onset of heat and my sad demise began with nasty infections on my legs - a symptom of being exposed to humidity.

A course of antibiotics was prescribed but from there I developed an upper respiratory infection and began a second course of antibiotics.

As the mercury shot up ever further I deteriorated, and although I was able to return to work for two days, my lowered immune system could not cope. Overnight my chest tightened up and my temperature rose to 39.5ºC.

I again returned to the doctor and was diagnosed with sinusitis and "walking pneumonia" - a term I could not fully associate with, as for the next 10 days I was horizontal in bed.

Nearly four weeks and four trips to the doctor later, I have tentatively returned to work. I will just have to make sure to be as fit as possible in preparation for the next onslaught of weather-change illnesses in the autumn.