Publication date Aug 29, 2007
Most adults with asthma have had it since childhood although some people first get asthma later in life. With the right treatment it can be controlled well.
Asthma is a condition that can make it hard to breathe. It happens when the tiny air passages in your lungs get swollen or inflamed. This makes it harder for air to get in and out.
Asthma can be triggered by substances in the air, like an allergy. Common triggers include house dust mites, pollen or animal fur. Other things that can cause asthma symptoms are tobacco smoke, air pollution, exercise or an illness (such as a cold).
The symptoms of asthma vary from person to person. You may feel short of breath and gasp for air. Or you may get a tightness in your chest and wheezing when you breathe. You may get a cough, although coughing is less likely to be a problem for adults with asthma than for children with asthma.
You probably find your symptoms change from one day to the next. They may also get worse at night, when your lungs tend to work less well.
Sometimes your symptoms may become very severe. If you feel your asthma is getting out control very quickly and your usually treatments aren't working your should see your doctors or dial 999 straight away.
If you've had asthma since you were a child you're probably very familiar with the treatments used to help control the condition. But if you've been diagnosed with asthma recently you may not know very much about the different treatments for controlling and preventing asthma symptoms. It is important to remember that however long you've had asthma, the condition should not stop you being active and doing the things you enjoy.
Doctors use what they call a 'stepwise' approach to treating asthma. If you're still getting symptoms with your usual medication you may need a higher dose or to take an extra drug for a while. This is called 'stepping up'. It doesn't mean you'll always need to take more medication. Once your asthma is under control your doctor may 'step down' your treatment. Doctors always try to give you the lowest dose of medicine that to treat and prevent your symptoms. The lower the dose, the less likely you are to get side effects.
You'll probably have a quick-relief inhaler to use when you get symptoms. It contains a type of drug called a short-acting beta-2 agonist. These inhalers are usually blue. Quick-relief inhalers contain medicines such as salbutamol (brand names Ventolin and Airomir) or terbutaline (Bricanyl). You'll usually need two puffs on the inhaler to ease your symptoms. You should carry your inhaler with you at all times. If you get symptoms less than once a day, this may be all the treatment you need.
These inhalers don't usually cause side effects. But you may get a slight shaking or trembling, especially in your hands.
Your doctor may suggest a treatment to prevent asthma symptoms if you get asthma more than once a week. The best preventer treatment is a steroid inhaler. There's lots of good research to show that steroid inhalers help to prevent asthma symptoms, help you sleep better (because asthma symptoms don't wake you up) and reduce how much you need to use a quick-relief inhaler. You're also less likely to need hospital treatment for asthma if you use a steroid inhaler regularly.
Steroid inhalers don't help to stop an asthma attack once it's started. They work too slowly. You should use your quick-relief inhaler if they get asthma symptoms. Steroid inhalers aim to prevent asthma symptoms in the long term.
There are other types of inhalers and also tablets to prevent asthma. But these aren't as good at preventing asthma symptoms as a steroid inhaler. Doctors sometimes prescribe them in addition to a steroid inhaler, if needed.
Steroid inhalers are usually brown, although some are beige, orange or red. Most types should be used once or twice a day. The names of some steroid inhalers are beclometasone (brand names Beclazone Easi-Breathe and Qvar), budesonide (Pulmicort) and fluticasone (Flixotide).
If you haven't had any problems with asthma for a few months, it may be possible to reduce the amount of steroids you are taking.
If you've been diagnosed with asthma recently or using an inhaler for the first time you may not know how to use an inhaler. There are several different types of inhaler. The most common type is a metered-dose inhaler (or MDI for short). Here's how to use it:
If you have problems using your inhaler, be sure to tell your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. You may find that a different type is easier to use.
Learning as much as you can about asthma can help you get better control over your conditions. Your doctor should be able to tell you about courses in your area. These will cover things like how to take asthma treatments and what to do if your breathing gets worse. Education programmes where you get a written action plan that tells you how to change your medication when you need to seem to work best.
There may be things in your home and outdoors that can trigger your asthma. For example, you may find that being around pollen, tobacco smoke or pets brings on symptoms. Staying away from these things may help to keep your asthma under control. Many people with asthma are allergic to house dust mites. Cleaning frequently, avoiding thick furnishings, such as big cushions, and having wood floors instead of rugs and carpets, can help reduce dust mites. This is especially important in the bedroom.
Some adults still die each year from asthma. You can help keep your asthma under control by taking your medication regularly, the way your doctor has prescribed. If you find your symptoms are becoming more troublesome, for example if asthma is waking you up at night, you should see your doctor or a specialist asthma nurse.
If you feel your symptoms are getting out of control very quickly you should call your doctor or seek emergency treatment. You might be able to avoid going into hospital by taking early action to get control over your symptoms. If you have had times when your asthma gets suddenly worse, try to remember what made it worse. This might have been a chest infection or a cold, for example. The next time you get the first signs of a cold go and see your doctor and talk to him or her about what you should to avoid your asthma symptoms getting worse.
If you use a quick relief inhaler and a steroid inhaler and still get asthma symptoms, you should see a doctor. He or she will want to check that you are using your inhaler properly. If the inhaler isn't the problem, you may need more treatments. This could be another inhaler or tablets. Again, you may only need to take these extra treatments for a short time, until your asthma is under control. Your doctor will then reduce the dose gradually or stop the medication and monitor what happens to your asthma symptoms.
A lot of people worry that their asthma will get worse as they get older. But if you have the right treatment, your asthma will probably stay the same. Asthma isn't usually life-threatening, but you should take it seriously.
This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited ("BMJ Group") 2007. All rights reserved
This information does not replace medical advice.
If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.