Asthma

What is asthma?

Asthma is a common long-term lung condition that often starts in childhood but can develop later in life. People with asthma can have inflamed airways resulting in symptoms like coughing, wheezing, feeling breathless, or a tight chest.

Asthma symptoms can be triggered by many things such as colds and viruses, pets, pollen, stress and even hormonal changes during puberty pregnancy and menopause.

What should your asthma management involve?

There is no cure for asthma, but there are medicines that can help prevent and relieve symptoms.

You should have a review of your asthma each year to optimise management and prevent asthma attacks. During your review a GP or nurse can talk to you about:

• How your symptoms are affecting you
• Your inhalers
• Your asthma attack risk
• Your asthma action plan

And check your lung function tests using peak flow.

It is important you attend your annual review even if your asthma is well controlled. For every type of asthma there is a risk of an asthma attack which can be life-threatening.

Links to videos on inhaler technique:

It is important to have good inhaler technique so that your inhaled medications can work properly. Please review the webpage below to find the technique video for your inhaler.

• https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/living-with/inhaler-videos

Smoking Resources

• NHS stop smoking services help you quit – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• Stopping smoking

When to seek help for your asthma:

It is important to seek help for your asthma if it is getting worse. Please contact the practice to book in a review of your asthma if:

• You are experiencing your symptoms more often
• Your symptoms are waking you up in the night
• Your symptoms are interfering with you usual day-to-day activities
• You are having to use your reliever inhaler three times a week or more

Asthma Attack

You need to seek emergency action if:

• Your reliever inhaler is not helping, or you need to use it more than every 4 hours
• You are finding it difficult to walk or talk
• You are finding it difficult to breathe
• You are wheezing a lot, have a very tight chest, or coughing a lot

What to do:

1. Sit up straight and try to keep calm.
2. Take one puff of your reliever inhaler every 30-60 seconds up to 10 times.
3. If you feel worse OR don’t feel better after 10 puffs call 999 for an ambulance.
4. If the ambulance has not arrived after 10 minutes and your symptoms are not improving, repeat step 2.

Afterwards:

• Please contact your GP to review your asthma after any asthma attack