Asthma awareness important
Asthma is a condition affecting the lungs and is frequently seen in New Zealand. Most of us are familiar with the symptoms of asthma including wheezing, coughing, (particularly during the night), chest tightness and gasping for breath.
Some people have one or more symptoms most of the time, while others can get them suddenly, when they have an ‘asthma attack’. It can be distressing when these symptoms occur and it is important to understand what is happening, how to control them and prevent them from occurring.
People with asthma have sensitive airways in their lungs and the illness is triggered when things such as dust mites and pollen cause breathing tubes to react and become tighter. Cigarette smoke, changes in air temperature, and other lung illnesses (e.g. bronchitis), can also trigger asthma.
Tubes swell and mucus builds-up, making it harder for air to go in and out of the lungs causing a whistle-like wheezy sound.
Asthma can’t be cured, but people can lead a full life if they learn to avoid what triggers their asthma, understand their symptoms and use their medicines to keep the asthma under control. Self Care pharmacists provide patients with advice about how their medicines work and the correct use of medicines (especially inhalers and spacers) according to their own particular asthma action plans, to get the best results.
Main types of asthma medicines are relievers and preventers. Relievers are for use during an ‘attack’, to open-up the tubes, relax tightened muscles and relieve symptoms. Preventers don’t directly relieve symptoms in an attack but are important as they keep asthma under control. They reduce swelling and mucus build-up in the breathing tubes. Preventers need to be used every day, even when you feel well. Patients may require a stepped-up regular preventer, used daily, along with a preventer. These relax airway muscles but do not affect swelling in the breathing tubes and they are not for acute asthma relief during an ‘attack’.
*Prepared by Pharmacy Self Care