Asthma

What is asthma?

Asthma is very common and affects over three million people in Britain. It is a chronic condition affecting your lungs. Lungs have hundreds of tubes (airways) that carry the air that you breathe in and out. In asthma the airways become red, inflamed and sensitive. When inflamed, the airways become narrower (as the surrounding muscles contract) and produce mucus (phlegm). This makes it harder to get air in and out of the lungs and produces the symptoms of asthma.

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Who gets asthma?

Asthma is hereditary, yet there is not always a family history. Asthma can start at any age. It is more common in people who suffer from eczema and hayfever.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Symptoms include coughing (with mucus), wheezing (a whistling noise can be heard when you breathe), tight chestedness (it may feel as though a large elastic band has been placed around your chest) and breathlessness.

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Why and when do people get asthma?

People with asthma have airways that are inflamed. There are many asthma triggers including allergy (birds, furry animals, house-dust mites, food and pollen are common allergies), a cold or chest infection, pollutants, chemicals, stress, air temperature and medicines.
Asthma is unpredictable. Some people suffer from it all of the time and others only occasionally. It is usually long-term, although it may change with age and can be triggered unexpectedly.

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What treatments are available?

There are two main types of treatment: relievers and preventers. Relievers are used when you have asthma symptoms. They relax the muscles around your airways, opening them up and allowing you to breathe more easily. Although they treat symptoms, they do not prevent them.
Preventers reduce the inflammation of your airways and so help prevent your symptoms. They need to be taken every day whether you have symptoms or not.
If you have severe asthma you may need short courses of steroid tablets. These are similar to steroids produced naturally by your body. They are not anabolic steroids which athletes use.

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How do I take my treatment?

Both relievers and preventers are taken through an inhaler (you breathe the medication directly into your lungs). Your doctor or nurse will show you how.

Are there side-effects?

There are usually no serious side-effects. Relievers may make your heart beat faster and you may become shaky. Do not worry, these usually decrease with time. I
f you are taking inhaled steroids your voice may become hoarse. Rinsing your mouth and gargling after using your inhaler will help to prevent this.

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Take action now

• Sort out which is your reliever (usually blue) and your preventer (usually brown or red).
• If allergic to animals, avoid them.
• If allergic to house-dust mites, clean your house and bedding regularly.
• If allergic to certain foods, check the ingredients.
• Avoid irritants such as wet paint and smoky atmospheres. If you smoke, give up.
• Take paracetamol rather than aspirin for pain relief.
• Avoid stress and rushing around.
• Ease yourself gently into an exercise programme.
• Tell your doctor if you are using your reliever more often than usual.
• Tell your doctor if you are suddenly waking up in the night with asthma symptoms.
• Tell your doctor if you cannot keep up your usual level of exercise or activity.
• Measure how your lungs are doing with a peak-flow meter; your doctor or nurse will show you how.

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Further information

This factsheet supported by Astra

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