Asthma Info

faqs

Create a better world for yourself and others through knowledge and understanding the affects of asthma. Develop greater self worth and self confidence.

  1. What is Asthma? ROAD – Reversible Obstructive Airway Disease. In other words, asthma is a condition in which the airways of the lungs become either narrowed or completely blocked. However, this is reversible, either spontaneously or with medication.
  2. First Signs of Asthma Coughing in children, teenagers and adults followed by shortage of breath, wheezing or rattling noise, possible tightness of the chest. Not all asthmatics wheeze, although it is extremely common, babies & children with chronic coughs may have asthma even though no wheezing is present.
  3. Known Causes of Asthma / Agitation / Triggers Hereditary; children don’t inherit asthma itself, however if either or both parents have asthma there will be a tendency to develop it. Lifestyle; lack of fresh air, agitated by smoking, pollen, pets, dust, mites, mould spores and other allergies. Poor diet can also contribute to increased mucus, which clogs the airway, increasing stale air in the lungs.
  4. Who gets Asthma? Asthma is not age selective, however a high percentage of under 5’s suffer together with seniors. Some young people and teenagers grow out of asthma for it only to affect them again later in life. Scientists still don’t know exactly what triggers asthma because there are so many different factors involved
  5. How is Asthma diagnosed? Normally a physical examination by your Doctor to asses the severity of your asthma / airflow obstruction, review personal history and lung function tests. Listening to your breathing with a stethoscope and testing your breathing with a spirometer (a machine for testing lung function that you breath in and out of), which will determine whether you have asthma or not.
  6. How is Asthma treated? Asthma is usually relieved by using inhalers / puffers and anti-inflammatory drugs. Medicine normally comes in an inhaler because it directs the medication to where it is needed, in your lungs.
  7. What is an Inhaler? There are two main types of inhalers, relievers and preventers. Reliever inhalers are usually blue, prescribed by your doctor for when you are having problems breathing or before exercise. They are essential in treating asthma attacks. Preventers usually come in brown, they contain a steroid medicine, which has great benefits and are safe in prescribed doses; they are normally used every morning and evening, even if you are feeling ok. They work by controlling swelling and inflammation in your airways, reducing the risk of a more severe attack.
  8. How do I know when my Inhaler is empty? Shake it near to your ear to listen to the liquid swishing around. If you have a metered dose inhaler (MDI) you may see a puff of mist coming out of it; this means its time to get a new inhaler. If in doubt always get a new inhaler.
  9. Are Steroids safe? Steroids used to treat asthma are the same as those produced naturally in your body; they have no relationship to anabolic steroids used by athletes and body builders. Your inhaler / puffer means that the low dosage of inhaled steroid goes straight down your airways, very little is absorbed by your body
  10. Can Asthma be cured? No; for some of us asthma goes away and never comes back, however as mentioned above a number of teenagers stop having asthma only for it to come back later in life. Some of us have asthma all of our lives, we keep it under control by having regular discussions with our Doctor and taking the appropriate medication, we are still able to do what anyone else can do. A number of leading sports personalities suffer from asthma.
  11. I love playing sport and having fun You can choose to be happy by keeping your asthma under control, you should be able to exercise and play sports like everyone else. Consult your doctor with regards to the use of your reliever inhaler (the blue one) before participating in exercise / sports.
  12. I am feeling really healthy, so should I stop using my inhaler / puffer? Your preventer inhaler (the brown one) is usually taken daily, mornings and evenings, these are called controller medicines; they keep your lungs healthy. If you stop taking them your asthma could slowly start getting out of control and making it hard to breath. Consult your Doctor before making any decision to stop medication even if you really are feeling great and healthy.
  13. What do I do during an Asthma Attack? Take two puffs of your reliever (blue inhaler) loosen any tight clothing, if no improvement continue to take a puff every minute for 5 minutes, if symptoms do not improve seek professional medical treatment immediately – do not go past 5 minutes.
  14. What is Status Asthmaticus? It is defined as a severe asthma attack that fails to respond to routine treatment and requires professional medical attention immediately, normally hospital emergency unit / paramedics.
  15. Do you get Asthma attacks in your sleep? Asthma attacks are common when sleeping, your reliever (blue inhaler) should be at hand and easy to locate. Severe asthma sufferers experience sleep disturbance on a regular basis.
  16. Can you die from asthma? Yes; according to Asthma UK on average 1 person dies from asthma every 7 hours, knowing what to do in a severe attack should reduce the number of deaths each year.
  17. I am asthmatic and want to have a baby? Healthy breathing is crucial to the growth and development of your baby, so you must keep your asthma under control when you become pregnant. Asthma itself is not hereditary however there does seem to be a hereditary component to the tendency to develop asthma. Whether or not your baby develops asthma is also influenced by their exposure to other factors such as infections, irritants, allergies and smoking during pregnancy.
  18. What is Pollen? Pollen is a fine powder that comes from trees and plants. They send pollen into the air to reproduce; the pollen is carried by the wind, which means we all inhale pollen through our noses into our lungs, sometimes triggering an allergic reaction.
  19. Is it OK to have cats and dogs at home? If you suffer from asthma there are no non-allergenic dogs or cats. It's not the hair that you are allergic to; it's the dander (tiny skin particles). There is no evidence or research that cats and dogs are safe for those of us with asthma. If removing your pet from your home is not an option, you will have to have it washed and groomed regularly, keep it out of your bedroom, off the furniture and vacuum daily.
  20. I have more questions about asthma, where can I get answers? Asthmapods links to over 200 information sites relating to asthma around the globe. However, depending where you are on the planet you may wish to use your favourite search engine to identify your country's asthma site for information.We will be issuing news and articles on a regular basis, sign up now for articles and news.

Asthma Facts

Just how big an issue is Asthma Globally?

The estimated population of people who are managing asthma at any given time, according to 2004 extrapolations, is in excess of 374 million globally. The same issues that are affecting our planet are affecting the whole of the human race.

This global phenomenom is not age-sensitive, it affects babies, children, teenagers, seniors. Globally it is getting worse, to see the latest statistics for your country read the Asthma Statistics PDF .

Myths & Triggers

Asthma Myths

Doctors and researchers have little idea of how to prevent asthma and it has remained one of medicines modern mysteries. It is believed that different patterns of asthma are all related to one condition; hyperventilation. Some other researchers feel that separate lung conditions exist.

There is currently no cure for asthma and no single exact cause has been identified. Therefore, understanding the patterns that occur in asthma; how it makes you feel, and how it can change over time is vital. Knowledge and awareness will empower you to take an active role in your own health management and wellbeing.

Asthma awareness - True/False:

And the answers are…………

Asthma Triggers

With escalating numbers each year, asthma can creep into almost anyone’s family. It is critical to identify which triggers affect you the most and, if you are a parent or individual make a note of which symptoms / triggers are causing flare ups with no warning.

Asthma has many puzzling aspects; your symptoms may differ from someone else and require a different maintenance plan.

Symptoms can be controlled by avoiding your triggers and taking your medication. Learn as much as you can about asthma triggers and treatment. Know your personal triggers and what medication to take and when. Always take your preventer; even when you feel well. Tell your doctor if your symptoms or triggers change.

Here are some of the known triggers:

Sometimes, no matter how careful you are about taking your asthma medication and avoiding your triggers, you may find that you have an asthma attack, which can be acute, sudden or build up gradually.

Apod Survey

Ben Oakley Design Limited commissioned OMD in the summer of 2006 to conduct market research into what matters to potential customers using inhalers and puffers.

OMD is one of the largest and most influential media communications specialists in the world through 140 offices in 80 countries. Their approach is unique and has helped to contribute to the successes of many of the worlds leading brands in today's highly competitive market.

We were looking for a total customer experience based on value, reliability, ease of use, value for money, integrity and greater awareness. The customer feedback has massively influenced the development of the Apod.

See the results in summary in the Apod Summary PDF.