How to Prevent Asthma
Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties. It effects people of all ages and often starts in childhood, although it can also develop for the first time in adults.
There’s currently no cure, but there are simple treatments that can help keep the symptoms under control so it does not have a big impact on your life.
Symptoms of Asthma
The main symptoms of asthma are:
- a whistling sound when breathing (wheezing)
- breathlessness
- a tight chest, which may feel like a band is tightening around it
- coughing
The symptoms can sometimes get temporarily worse. This is known as an asthma attack.
When to See a GP
How to Prevent Asthma: See a GP if you think you or your child may have asthma.
Several conditions can cause similar symptoms, so it’s important to get a proper diagnosis and correct treatment.
The GP will usually be able to diagnose asthma by asking about symptoms and carrying out some simple tests.
Treatments for Asthma
How to Prevent Asthma: Asthma is usually treated by using an inhaler, a small device that let’s you breathe in medicines.
The main types are:
- reliever inhalers – used when needed to quickly relieve asthma symptoms for a short time.
- preventer inhalers – used every day to prevent asthma symptoms happening
- Some people also need to take tablets.
Other Treatments
Other treatments, such as injections or surgery, are rarely needed, but may be recommended if all other treatments are not helping.
Injections
For some people with severe asthma, injections of medicines called biologic therapies are given every few weeks. These can help to control the symptoms.
How to Prevent Asthma: They are not suitable for everyone with asthma and can only be prescribed by an asthma specialist.
The main side effect is discomfort where the injection is given.
Surgery
How to Prevent Asthma: A procedure called bronchial thermoplasty may be offered as a treatment for severe asthma. It work well and there are no serious concerns about its safety.
you will be sedated or put to sleep using a general anaesthetic during a bronchial thermoplasty.
How to Prevent Asthma: It involves passing a thin, flexible tube down your throat and into your lungs. Heat is then used on the muscles around the airways too help stop them narrowing and causing asthma symptoms.
Causes and Triggers of Asthma
Asthma is caused by swelling (inflammation) of the breathing tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. This makes the tubes highly sensitive, so they temporarily narrow.
It may happen randomly or after exposure to a trigger.
Common asthma triggers include:
- allergies (to house dust mites, animals or pollen, for example)
- smoke, pollution and cold air
- exercise
- infections like colds or flu
- Identifying and avoiding your asthma triggers can help you keep you symptoms under control.
How Long Asthma Lasts for
Asthma is a long term condition for many people, particularly if it first develops when you’re an adult.
In children, it sometimes goes away or improves during the teenage years, but can come back later in life.
The symptoms can usually be controlled with treatment. Most people will have normal, active lives, although some people with more severe asthma may have ongoing problems.
Complications of Asthma
How to Prevent Asthma: Although asthma can normally be kept under control, it’s still a serious condition that can cause a number of problems.
This is why it’s important to follow your treatment plan and not ignore your symptoms if they’re getting worse.
Badly controlled asthma can cause problems such as:
- feeling tired all the time
- under performance at, or absence from, work or school
- stress, anxiety or depression
- disruption of your work and leisure because of unplanned visits to a GP or hospital
- lung infections (pneumonia)
- delays in growth or puberty in children
There’s also a risk of severe asthma attacks, which can be life threatening.