How to manage asthma

Asthma is very common longterm condition caused by inflammation of the airways – in fact, according to Asthma UK, it affects over 5 million people in the UK, with over 1 million children suffering from the characteristic symptoms of coughing, breathlessness and wheezing.

Usually diagnosed in childhood, its severity can range from easily manageable with prescribed medication, to life-threatening. Airways become super-sensitive and tighten when something such as pollen or animal fur irritates them, and this can leave sufferers struggling to breathe.

Although asthma isn’t curable, it is manageable – and many children grow out of it. The key is to understand what your – or your child’s – triggers are. This can include anything from cigarette smoke, to stress, to house mites.

Usually, those with asthma will be prescribed a ‘preventer’ inhaler to be used daily to stop attacks happening, as well as a blue ‘reliever’ inhaler for quick relief if an attack does strike. If you know you’re going to be exposed to triggers – a family with a hair-shedding dog, for instance – you can use it 10-15 minutes in advance to protect you.

It’s important to always breathe out fully before using your inhaler. In doing so, you create more space in your airways, ready for your next breath in. This means you can breathe in deeper and for longer when you inhale your asthma medicine. This increases the chances of the medication reaching the small airways deep inside your lungs, making it as effective as possible.

Being disciplined about using your preventer inhaler regularly can stop you having to reach for your reliever inhaler too much. If you are regularly using your preventer, but still find yourself reaching for your reliever, speak to your GP or pharmacist, as your preventer inhaler or your inhaler technique might need checking.

The dosage of your asthma medicines is also very important, and a pharmacist, GP or asthma nurse can offer advice on that front too. It’s very useful to come up with an asthma action plan so there’s no grey area about what you need to do to stay as healthy as possible.