Introduction
More than 12,700 people have died from asthma in England and Wales in the past decade. Tragically, more than three-quarters of these deaths were preventable.
Asthma is a variable condition, usually with symptoms of wheeze, cough, chest tightness and shortness of breath. It has a greater prevalence in more deprived communities, and those living in the most deprived areas in England are also more likely to go to hospital for their asthma. People from disadvantaged socio-economic groups are more likely to be exposed to the causes and triggers of asthma, such as smoking and air pollution.
Patients with asthma can lead normal, productive lives but, in many instances, if their asthma is not well managed, it can lead to day and night-time symptoms, interference with school or work activities, and an increased reliance on short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) medication – often referred to as ‘blue’, ‘reliever’, ‘rescue’ or ‘emergency’ treatment.
Basic asthma care includes an inhaler technique check/coaching, an up-to-date personal asthma action plan (PAAP), an annual asthma review and a discussion about environmental factors (e.g. second-hand smoke, air pollution, cold or poor quality housing) that can adversely affect the condition.
Asthma, smoking and exercise
Cigarette smoke is a known trigger of asthma symptoms and can make the condition worse over time. Pharmacy technicians can ask patients with asthma if they smoke and offer support to those who do. Passive smoking also has an adverse effect on asthma.
Many patients with asthma are uncertain about what sort of exercise might be safe for them. Asthma + Lung UK offers the following advice:
- Warm up and warm down for 10-15 minutes before and after exercising
- For patients with a preventer inhaler or a MART inhaler, using it every day can lower the risk of asthma symptoms triggered by exercise
- In colder weather, symptoms are more likely during exercise because when the air is cold it can irritate sensitive airways. One way to avoid this problem is to exercise indoors during the winter months or consider doing less vigorous exercise – going for a power walk instead of a run, for example.