ASTHMA & ALLERGIES

51 Is there a breed of dog that’s less likely to trigger asthma attacks?

ALL dogs possess allergenic material in their hair or skin that can cause reactions in humans, says Amena Warner, head of clinical services at Allergy UK. The severity of the allergy comes down to a difference in reaction — not necessarily the type of dog.

‘It is possible that longer hair may harbour other allergens, such as dust mites, pollens and moulds, to which an individual also may be sensitive,’ says Ms Warner.

‘Other people may be sensitive to substances found on the dog, such as flea powder or soaps. Even breeds described as “hairless” still have allergens in the skin.’

The animal’s gender could make a difference, too. ‘Some people can be allergic to a single allergen called Can f5, which is present only in male dogs,’ says Dr Michael Rudenko, a London-based consultant in allergy and immunology.

52 Which inhaler should I take and when? Should I take it even when I feel well?

MOST people with asthma are prescribed two types of inhalers, says Dr Andy Whittamore, a GP in Hampshire and clinical lead at Asthma UK.

‘One is a reliever, usually blue; the other is a preventer inhaler, which is usually brown, though there are different colours depending on the medicines they contain.

‘Preventer inhalers need to be taken regularly as prescribed — usually every day — to reduce the sensitivity and inflammation in the airways. This means you will be less likely to suffer an asthma attack.

‘ Some people don’t use their preventer inhaler as they should because they don’t notice the difference, but this leads to an overreliance on reliever inhalers and means their asthma is probably not under control.’

Reliever inhalers don’t treat the underlying inflammation — they should be used only to quickly treat the symptoms during an attack, adds Dr Whittamore, who specialises in respiratory disease. They relax the muscles surrounding the airways, making it easier to breathe.

If you use your reliever three times a week or more, it is a sign your asthma isn’t well managed — see your GP or asthma nurse to check you’re on the best treatment.

53 Can I have doubles of my prescriptions so I can have one inhaler at home and another at work/school?

‘ IT’S important to have your blue reliever inhaler with you at all times; asthma triggers can be unpredictable and can catch people unawares, so it might be a lifesaver,’ says GP and asthma specialist Dr Whittamore.

‘If you need access to more than one, your GP or nurse might be willing to prescribe another.

‘However, this can make it difficult for your GP to see how quickly you get through your inhaler and monitor your asthma control.’

Using a reliever inhaler three or more times a week, or getting through one within a month, could mean your asthma isn’t as well controlled as it should be, ‘which could increase your risk of having a life-threatening asthma attack’.

54 Can some people grow out of asthma?

ALTHOUGH some people can seem to ‘grow out’ of asthma, actually they don’t.

‘In the majority of cases what’s actually happening is that they have a time, which could be years or even decades, of being symptom-free,’ says asthma specialist Dr Whittamore. ‘But their symptoms could come back as they’re naturally hypersensitive, and their immune systems could be triggered by a new workplace, stress or female hormonal changes, such as pregnancy or the menopause.

‘It might be that they haven’t had asthma symptoms because they have been managing their asthma really well.’

He adds: ‘It’s really important for children to continue taking their asthma medicines as prescribed, even if they have been symptomfree for a while and even if that stretches into decades, as stopping use of their preventer inhaler will mean their airways could become sensitive and more likely to react to asthma triggers.

‘If a child has been symptom-free for three months or more, parents should make an appointment to see their GP or asthma nurse so their treatment can be reviewed.

‘If you or your child has ever had symptoms or treatment for asthma and symptoms return, you should be reassessed, as there could be inflammation building up in your lungs that needs treating.’

55 Do steroid inhalers cause side-effects like oral steroids do?

‘Using inhalers which contain steroids [ie, preventers] is a really important part of managing asthma for most people,’ says GP and asthma specialist Dr Whittamore.

Steroids are anti-inflammatory medicines that reduce the risk of having a potentially life-threatening asthma attack.

‘People may worry about the sideeffects, which can include increased appetite and headaches,’ says Dr Whittamore. ‘However, inhalers give a much lower dose than tablets — which are also sometimes prescribed for asthma.

‘The potential side-effects are rare and easily managed — especially if you take the inhalers correctly.’

If you’re prescribed steroid tablets for asthma, it will be only for a short amount of time — they’re used to reduce inflammation after an asthma attack to get symptoms back under control.