Asthma is a very common long-term lung condition. It affects the airways that carry air in and out of your lungs. In the UK, 5.4 million people have asthma. That’s one in every 12 adults and one in every 11 children.
People with asthma often have sensitive, inflamed airways. They can get symptoms like coughing, wheezing, feeling breathless or a tight chest.
Asthma symptoms can come and go. Sometimes people may not have symptoms for weeks or months at a time.
Asthma needs to be treated every day, even if you feel well, to lower the risk of symptoms and asthma attacks.
Find out more about the symptoms of asthma.
Source: Asthma UK
If you notice your asthma symptoms are getting worse, or if you need to use your blue reliever inhaler three or more times in one week to treat symptoms, please book an asthma review appointment with your GP Practice Nurse so you can get more support to keep your asthma under control.
Treatment
Your reliever (blue inhaler – usually Salbutamol) does NOT treat the underlying cause for asthma. It is a rescue drug that acts quickly to expand the airways for a short time to relive asthma symptoms. It does not help the inflammation in your lungs.
Treatment of your asthma involves an inhaled steroid. Taking a preventer is important to control any inflammation in the lungs.
Inhaler technique
Using inhalers correctly means that the drug is delivered into your lungs giving you maximum effect and reducing any risk of adverse / unwanted effects.
Good Asthma control means:
• No night-time asthma symptoms
• No asthma symptoms on waking
• No need for reliever medication
• No restriction of day-today activities
• No days off school or work due to asthma
• No asthma attacks or flare-ups.