IT IS A VERY COMMON DISEASE

Asthma is a very common disease and affects about 5.2 million people in the UK, of which 1.1 million are children. Two thirds of people develop asthma as children, but some people develop it for the first time in their 60’s or 70’s. Some people get asthma only brought on by excercise.

COUGHING, WHEEZING, SHORTNESS OF BREATH AND TIGHTNESS IN THE CHEST 

The symptoms of asthma are:

• Coughing - particularly at night.
• Wheezing - a continuous high-pitched whistling sound when you breathe.
• Shortness of breath - the air passages in the lungs become narrower and it gets difficult to breathe.
• Tightness in the chest - as the airways swell up the chest feels tight and uncomfortable.
  

IT AFFECTS THE AIRWAYS OF THE LUNGS

The small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs (airways) are very sensitive in asthma sufferers, and they can easily become inflamed and swollen. The airways narrow and become tight making it harder to draw breath.

IT CAN BE ALLERGIC OR NONALLERGIC

Asthma can be divided into two types, allergic and nonallergic, although most sufferers experience both. Because the lungs are overly sensitive, various irritants can aggravate the airways and cause them to go into spasm. Common triggers that can cause an attack include pollen, house dust mites, fur, tobacco smoke, aspirin, penicillin, viral and bacterial chest infections and exercise. Some adults who develop asthma will do so from exposure to chemicals at work.

IT IS A BUILD UP OF MUCUS

The airways often produce excess sticky mucus or phlegm which restricts the airways and further narrows them. This makes it harder to breath and causes coughing, wheezing and a tight feeling in the chest.

IT CAN RANGE FROM MILD TO SEVERE

Asthma can range from very mild to very severe. Most people who suffer are in between, and it can usually be controlled with drugs and a change in the person’s environment. Sufferers should visit their GP regularly so their asthma can be monitored.

TREATMENTS

Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled with the correct treatment. The two main treatments for asthma are – preventers and relievers. These are in the form of an inhaler and a doctor prescribes them.

• Preventers – These help to suppress the inflammation and reduce the swelling of the lining of the airways. This medication should be taken regularly, even if you feel well, as it helps build up a guard making it less likely to develop breathing difficulties if you come into contact with an asthma trigger. If taken regularly, these also help to keep the lungs strong and healthy. Preventative inhalers are usually brown or orange.
• Relievers – These help when you are having trouble breathing during an asthma attack. The fast acting inhaler will help to open up the airways and relax the muscles making it easier to breathe and giving instant relief. They can also be used before exercise to help reduce the risk of an attack. Reliever inhalers are usually blue.

There are other inhalers that are used as combinations of these or other drugs.

SELF HELP

There are other ways to help with asthma, but you should always keep taking the preventer and reliever inhalers prescribed by your doctor.

• Breathing exercises – to help you to relax. They may help at the onset of an attack and a full blown asthma attack may be avoided.
• Stop smoking – smoke is an irritant and will increase the severity of the symptoms. If you smoke there will be a more rapid decline in lung function and a decreased response to the inhalers.
• Avoid second hand smoke – this will have the same effect as smoking.
• Avoid common triggers – if you know what is likely to set off an asthma attack, try to minimise the threat and avoid the situation.
• Exercise – this can help keep the lungs healthy. Always use your inhaler before exercise and keep it with you. Cold, dry air can sometimes trigger an attack, so exercise such as swimming in a heated, indoor pool is better than running or skiing for example.