Health group focus on asthma

by Mark Lankshear

Asthma is a common condition affecting more than 5 million people in the UK. In 2000, a survey reported Burngreave had the highest levels of asthma-like symptoms in Sheffield. The BCAF Health Group recently held an ‘Asthma Awareness Day’ to highlight the issue.

What is asthma?

Asthma is an allergic illness, affecting the small tubes that carry air to the lungs. If you have asthma your airways become sensitive and inflamed. When you come into contact with something that irritates your airways (a trigger) the muscles around them tighten, the lining becomes inflamed and sticky phlegm is produced. All this makes your airways narrower, making it harder to breathe and leads to the symtoms of asthma.

Asthma symptoms can vary. Coughing is the most common, and you can also wheeze, get short of breath, or have a tight feeling in your chest.

How is it treated?

Nurses or doctors at your GP surgery will usually prescribe inhalers to open up the airways and control the symptoms. Inhalers fall into two groups, ‘relievers’ (like Salbutamol) work straight away, but only last for an hour or two, and ‘preventers’ which stop symptoms coming back if used regularly. They work best if you take them through a ‘spacer’.
The aim is to stop you having regular symptoms, so you don’t need the blue relievers very often. Nurses and doctors use a step-wise approach, gradually increasing or decreasing the dose of preventers every month or two. You shouldn’t change your doses too quickly, or without discussing it.

What triggers asthma?

A trigger is anything that irritates your airways. Everyone’s asthma is different and you will probably find you have several triggers.

Common triggers include:

• viral infections (colds or ’flu)
• allergies (eg to pollen, animals, house-dust mites)
• irritants (eg cold air, tobacco smoke, fumes)

What causes asthma?

Asthma, like other allergic conditions, eczema and hay fever, often runs in the family. The causes aren’t fully understood but we know smoking in pregnancy increases the chance of a child having asthma. There is currently no evidence traffic pollution causes asthma, but poor air quality can make your asthma worse.

For more information about asthma, visit the Asthma UK website at
www.asthma.org.uk or ring their helpline on 0845 701 0203.