‘A decade ago, I was in hospital 3 to 4 times a year’

It was as if a switch had tripped disrupting the flow of his life which up to then had been full and active.

So says John Hannan of the dramatic impact on his lifestyle of genetic emphysema or Alpha-1.

“It literally destroyed my life. It was a frightening thing. I didn’t know what was going on. I had always been very active, playing tennis, horse-riding. Then I found myself struggling around at work, in and out of hospital, constant chest infections.”