Asthma - information for patients

About your asthma

Asthma is a condition where the airways in your lungs become inflamed and
narrow. When this happens you may wheeze, cough, feel short of breath, or feel
tight in the chest. The inflammation is there even on the days you feel well,
which is why treatment works best when it is taken regularly rather than only
when you have symptoms.

Your inhalers

Your preventer inhaler contains a small dose of steroid. It treats the
inflammation and reduces the chance of an asthma attack. It does not give
instant relief, and it works only if it is taken as prescribed.

Your reliever inhaler opens the airways within minutes. It does not treat the
underlying inflammation. If you are using a reliever inhaler three or more
times a week, your asthma is not as well controlled as it should be, and you
should ask for a review rather than simply using more of it.

Some people are now given a single inhaler that does both jobs. If that is what
you have been prescribed, use it as we have written on your action plan and do
not use a separate blue inhaler as well unless we have told you to.

How you take the inhaler matters as much as which one you take. A large amount
of the dose is wasted if the technique is not right. Please bring all of your
inhalers to every appointment so we can watch you use them. Ask about a spacer
if you have not been offered one.

Things that can make asthma worse

Colds and chest infections, cigarette smoke including other people's, vaping,
pollen, house dust mite, animals, cold air, exercise, damp and mould, air
pollution, and some medicines - particularly aspirin, ibuprofen and other
anti-inflammatory painkillers, and beta blockers including eye drops. Hay
fever, reflux and being overweight all make asthma harder to control, and all
of them can be treated.

If you smoke or vape, stopping is the single most useful thing you can do for
your asthma. We can refer you for help with this, and the treatments available
make a real difference.

Vaccination

Have the influenza vaccine every autumn, and the COVID-19 vaccine when you are
offered it. Chest infections are the commonest trigger for an asthma attack.

When your asthma is getting worse

Warning signs are needing your reliever more often than usual, waking at night
because of coughing or wheezing, being more breathless than usual on your
normal activities, and peak flow readings falling below your usual best.

If you notice these, follow your written action plan and contact your GP
practice or asthma nurse the same week.

Call 999 for an ambulance if you are too breathless to speak in full sentences,
if your reliever inhaler is not helping or is not lasting, if your lips or
fingers look blue, or if you are frightened by how breathless you are. Do not
worry about wasting anyone's time. It is always better to be seen.

Your written action plan

We have given you a written asthma action plan. It sets out your usual
treatment, what to do when your symptoms get worse, and when to get urgent
help. Keep it where you can find it, and bring it to your appointments so we
can keep it up to date.

Further information: Asthma + Lung UK, www.asthmaandlung.org.uk, helpline
0300 222 5800.