ASTHMA CARE
Introduction

Asthma is a common condition where there is long-term inflammation
or swelling of the airways of the lung. As a result of the inflammation, the airways are twitchy or irritable and they narrow easily in response to a wide range of provoking triggers.

Your treatment will depend on how troublesome your asthma is, and may change from time to time. The aim is to keep you well on the smallest possible dose of medicine. The medicines your doctor gives you are sometimes described as a preventer inhaler, a reliever inhaler or a protector inhaler. A reliever (usually blue) is a short-acting inhaler which works quickly to relieve your wheeziness and/or cough by relaxing tightened airways. A preventer (usually brown, red or orange) is an inhaler which, when used regularly, prevents the swelling in your breathing tubes that occurs with asthma. If you are still having symptoms your doctor may increase the dose of your preventer or else prescribe a protector (usually green) which is taken along with your preventer.

A protector is a long-acting inhaler which reduces asthma symptoms and works by relaxing the breathing tubes in your lungs.

They all do different jobs, but work together to help you control your asthma. Take them as your doctor advises and you will be playing your part in successfully managing your asthma.

What is Asthma?

When you are well, the air passage is wide open. There is a thin layer of soft tissue lining the airway and a tough, muscular outer layer which surrounds it.

In asthma, this soft tissue becomes inflamed and swollen. This narrows the airways. More mucus is produced than usual and some of the airways may become blocked.

In asthma, the inflamed lining is also sensitive to "trigger" factors such as dust or pollen.

Many things may trigger a spasm of the airways leading to an asthma attack. These include dust, pollen, cigarette smoke, certain chemicals and exercise such as walking up a hill or childhood play.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT TO ACHIEVE WITH TREATMENT?

With good advice and modern medicines, it's possible for most people to control their condition and lead a life unconstrained by their asthma

The goals of asthma management are :

- Be free from symptoms day and night

- Restore normal or best possible peak flow, and
maintain it
- Reduce the risk of severe attacks

- Minimise absence from school or work

Your peak flow is a measure of how quickly you can blow air out of your lungs. If you have asthma symptoms, your airways become narrower and so it is more difficult to blow air out of your lungs. Your peak flow will therefore be lower than normal.

ASTHMA TREATMENT

The treatment prescribed for your asthma will depend on how troublesome your asthma is, and may be increased or decreased from time to time. The aim is to keep you feeling well on the smallest possible dose of medicine.

Relievers

Everyone with asthma will require a reliever for rapid relief of symptoms. A reliever (usually blue) is a short acting inhaler which works quickly to relieve your wheeziness and or cough, by relaxing tightened airways.

Relievers only ease the symptoms of asthma and do not treat the underlying inflammation.
If you or your child regularly need to use a reliever more than once or twice a day this suggests that the asthma may not be properly controlled and that further review is probably needed. You should go and see your doctor. Your doctor may add some regular treatment to control your asthma. This regular treatment will usually involve the addition of preventers. If you are still getting symptoms then protectors may be added.

Asthma Treatments

Relievers
short-acting inhalers (usually blue) i.e.,
- salbutamol
- terbutaline
- others

Preventers
inhaled steroids (usually brown, red or orange)
- beclomethasone dipropionate
- budesonide
- fluticasone propionate
- sodium cromoglycate
- nedocromil sodium

Protectors
long-acting inhalers (usually green)
- salmeterol xinafoate
- oxitropium bromide
- eformoterol fumarate

REGULAR TREATMENT

Regular treatment helps control your asthma. The types of medicines used in regular treatment are preventers and protectors.

Preventers

A preventer (usually brown, red or orange) is an inhaler which, when used regularly, prevents the swelling in your breathing tubes that occurs with asthma.
They must be taken regularly, morning and evening, or as directed by the doctor, for you to get the best effect.
When your asthma is under control, your doctor will help you to reduce the dose to the lowest which maintains effective control of your asthma.
Preventers should not be used to relieve sudden attacks of wheezing or breathlessness.
For both adults and children, inhaled steroids are the most commonly used preventers. The dose of inhaled steroids may be varied from time to time, for example being increased at the first sign of a cold.
Inhaled steroids are taken in small doses which are delivered directly to the lungs where they work.
Sometimes it helps to rinse out your mouth after taking your inhaled steroid or to use your inhaler before brushing your teeth.

Protectors

If you are still having symptoms your doctor may increase the dose of your preventer, or he or she may prescribe a protector. This is taken along with your preventer
Protectors are long-acting relievers which reduce asthma symptoms and work by keeping the air passages of the lungs open and relaxed.
A protector would usually be taken together with a preventer such as an inhaled steroid.

WHY TAKE REGULAR TREATMENT EVERY DAY?

You should take your preventer or protector treatment regularly, every morning and evening prescribed by your doctor, even when you are feeling well. This keeps your asthma under control and may help to keep your lungs healthy.

SUMMARY

With regular treatment, the majority of adults and children with asthma should be free from asthma symptoms and have no restrictions to their lifestyle. If you have regular symptoms, or find that there are certain activities you must avoid because of your asthma, tell your doctor.

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General Summary

Goals of asthma treatment
Asthma should not make you alter your normal behaviour. With the right medicines you can take control of your asthma and prevent it from restricting what you do.

- Be free from symptoms day and night
- Restore normal or best possible peak flow, and maintain it
- Reduce the risk of severe attacks

- Minimise absence from school or work

What is asthma?

Asthma is a common condition where there is long-term inflammation or swelling of the airways of the Lung. As a result of the inflammation, the airways are twitchy or irritable and they narrow easily in response to a wide range of provoking triggers. Typical symptoms include:

• cough
- chest tightness
- wheezing

- shortness of breath

What causes the airways to narrow
Airways narrowing is usually caused by a combination of muscle spasm in the walls of the airways, and inflammation leading to swelling and excessive secretion of mucus.

What treatment is available

RELIEVERS
A reliever is a short-acting inhaler (usually blue) which works quickly to relieve your wheeziness and/or cough by relaxing tightened airways

PREVENTERS
A preventer (usually brown, red or orange) is an inhaler which when used regularly, prevents the swelling in your breathing tubes that occurs with asthma

PROTECTORS
A protector is a long-acting inhaler (usually green) which reduces asthma symptoms and works by relaxing the breathing tubes in your lungs

• Both protectors and preventers must be taken regularly every day for you to get the best effect. They should not be used to relieve sudden attacks of wheezing or breathlessness because they do not provide immediate relief of symptoms

• If you take your medicines as your doctor advises you will be playing your part in successfully managing your asthma

How do you know when symptoms are getting worse?

You should consult your doctor or practice nurse if you notice any of the following:

• Being woken at night by shortness of breath or coughing

• Increased shortness of breath on waking in the morning
• Needing more reliever treatment or the reliever doesn't seem to
work so well

• A falling peak flow and big differences between your morning and
evening readings

• Shortness of breath on exertion

• Activity Limited by asthma

Remember, symptoms of asthma are cough, wheezing and breathlessness.

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ASTHMA CARE Introduction

ASTHMA TREATMENT

General Summary

Goals of asthma treatment Asthma should not make you alter your normal behaviour. With the right medicines you can take control of your asthma and prevent it from restricting what you do.

ASTHMA CARE
Introduction

Goals of asthma treatment
Asthma should not make you alter your normal behaviour. With the right medicines you can take control of your asthma and prevent it from restricting what you do.