£14 INHALER CAN SPEED RECOVERY

UK scientists have found that COVID patients who used a simple asthma inhaler got better quicker, and were less likely to be hospitalised. The inhaler, called Pulmicort, is also used to treat conditions such as smoker’s lung, and only costs £14 over the counter, so it’s hoped it could help treat COVID at home. In the study, it shortened the duration of the illness, improved wellbeing and helped people to stay better once they’d recovered.

It has few side effects and is easy to use, so GPs will be given guidance on prescribing it to COVID patients going forward. You use it twice a day for 14 days, and it delivers steroids directly to the throat and lungs, which is where COVID infection usually starts. The researchers think it stops the virus multiplying while cutting inflammation in the body. Among 4,700 patients across the UK, it worked for all age groups, whether they had underlying health problems or not. Great news!