Asthma Management

Asthma is a chronic condition that impairs the lung’s airways. It can cause wheezing, coughing, and a tight chest. In the UK, one in every twelve adults has asthma.

If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, your GP or asthma nurse will help you manage it. They may prescribe medication, probably an inhaler, provide information on how to monitor your asthma, and tell you what to do if you have an asthma attack.

Asthma has no cure, but effective treatment can help you control symptoms and live a normal, active life. Even if your symptoms are intermittent, asthma must be treated daily to lower the risk of symptoms and asthma attacks.

What Causes Asthma?

Asthma usually starts in childhood, but adults can also develop the condition. A family history of asthma and allergies put you at higher risk.

Asthma can have allergic or non-allergic triggers. With allergic asthma, allergens like mould, pollen, and pet dander can cause an asthma attack. If you have non-allergic asthma, you may be affected by factors like exercise, stress, illness, and the weather.

Avoiding triggers is an important part of asthma management. Common asthma triggers include colds and viruses, pets, pollen, pollution, house dust mites, or stress.

Asthma Treatment Options

Inhalers are the most common treatment for asthma. These devices let you inhale (breathe in) the medicine. If you have severe asthma, and inhalers alone do not control your symptoms, tablets and other treatments may also be prescribed. The following treatments are available to manage asthma:

Reliever Inhalers

Most people with asthma will use a reliever inhaler. You only use these inhalers when you are having symptoms. If you need to use your reliever inhaler more than three times a week, your GP or asthma nurse may need to prescribe a preventer inhaler. Temporary side effects after using a reliever inhaler include shaking or a fast heartbeat. 

Preventer Inhalers

If you need to use a reliever inhaler often, you’ll probably be prescribed a preventer inhaler. These contain steroids and need to be used every day to reduce inflammation and sensitivity in your airways. Possible side effects include oral thrush, a hoarse voice, and a sore throat. You should tell your GP or asthma nurse if your preventer inhaler is not helping you manage your symptoms.

Most people with asthma use a preventer inhaler every day, and a reliever inhaler when symptoms flare up.

Steroid Tablets

Steroid tablets are mainly used when inhalers are not working to control your symptoms. They can be taken as an immediate treatment when you have an asthma attack or as a chronic treatment to prevent symptoms. The long-term or frequent use of steroid tablets can cause side effects such as weight gain, easy bruising, mood changes, fragile bones (osteoporosis), and high blood pressure.

Injections

Occasionally people with severe asthma are given biologic therapy injections. These are administered every few weeks to help control the symptoms.

Surgery

A procedure called a bronchial thermoplasty is sometimes offered to patients with severe asthma. During this operation, a thin, flexible tube is inserted down your throat and into your lungs. Heat is then applied to the muscles surrounding the airways to prevent them from narrowing and causing asthma symptoms.

Complementary Therapies

Several alternative (complementary) treatments that have been suggested for treating asthma. These include breathing exercises, traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, air ionisers, chiropractic care, homeopathy, and dietary supplements. There is scant evidence, however, that any of these therapies are effective.

Frequently Asked Questions