Asthma is a common long-term inflammatory lung condition that can cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and breathlessness.
The severity of these symptoms varies from person to person. Asthma can be controlled well in most people most of the time, although some people may have more persistent problems. Occasionally, asthma symptoms can get gradually or suddenly worse. This is known as an "asthma attack", although doctors sometimes use the term "exacerbation". Severe attacks may require hospital treatment and can be life threatening, although this is unusual. If you use your inhalers as prescribed, the risk of a severe attack is much lower.
What is asthma?
Symptoms of asthma
Managing asthma
There’s no cure for asthma, but with the right treatment you can keep symptoms under control, so it does not have a big impact on your life.
How well is my asthma controlled?
Medications
If you have asthma, you will need to take medications once or twice daily, usually using an inhaler.
There are two main types of medicines: 1) a steroid preventer medicine to prevent symptoms and 2) a reliever medicine to treat symptoms and asthma attacks. You may have one combination inhaler with both medicines in, or two separate inhalers.
It is really important that you use your inhaler(s) every day as prescribed, even if you feel well. It stops inflammation building up in your airways, which means you’re less likely to react to your triggers and get symptoms.
How is asthma treated?
Attending your annual asthma review
An asthma review helps make sure you’re taking the right medicines at the right doses to keep your symptoms under control. It’s your chance to talk about ways to manage your symptoms better and lower your risk of an asthma attack. Studies have shown patients who don't have their asthma reviewed regularly are more likely to be hospitalised with asthma.
What happens at an asthma review?
What is an asthma review?
Why are my inhalers changing?
If you have attended your asthma review this year your inhaler(s) may have been changed. Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART) is an asthma treatment plan where you use one combined inhaler instead of two separate preventer and reliever inhalers. A MART inhaler has been shown to lower the risk of asthma symptoms and attacks.
More about MART
If you are newly diagnosed with asthma or you only get occasional symptoms you may have been prescribed an anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR) inhaler. Like MART this is one inhaler with both a preventer and reliever medicine, but you only need to use it when you have symptoms.
More about AIR
My asthma is getting worse
If you’re asthma is getting worse, it means your asthma is not well-controlled and you need to make an appointment with the GP or practice nurse as soon as possible.
Signs your asthma is getting worse include:
- Finding it harder to do everyday things
- Using your reliever inhaler more than usual
- Having to go into hospital because of your asthma
When asthma is not well controlled, asthma attacks happen more often and are more severe. Asthma attacks are serious and can be life threatening.
Asthma getting worse
Dispose of your inhaler correctly
Please take your empty inhalers to the pharmacy to be disposed of safely. They shouldn’t be disposed of in your household bin as residual gas from canisters can be released into the atmosphere and damage the environment.
More info
Useful links to find out more:
https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/asthma
https://patient.info/chest-lungs/asthma-leaflet
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/lungs-and-airways/asthma/