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COPD

Asthma

Treatment

A 'typical' treatment plan

A common treatment plan for a 'typical' person with moderate asthma is:

•	A preventer inhaler, usually a steroid inhaler, taken each morning and at bedtime. This usually prevents symptoms throughout the day and night.
•	A reliever inhaler may be needed now and then if breakthrough symptoms occur. For example, if symptoms flare up when you have a cough or cold.
•	If exercise or sport causes symptoms, then a dose of a reliever inhaler just before the exercise usually prevents symptoms.
•	The dose of the preventer inhaler may need to be increased for a while if you have a cough or cold, or during the hay fever season.
•	Some people may need to add in a long acting bronchodilator, or tablets, if symptoms are not controlled with the above.

	At first, adjusting doses of inhalers is usually done on the advice of a doctor or nurse. In time, you may agree an 'asthma action plan' with your doctor or nurse. This means that you make adjustments to the dose of your inhalers, depending on your symptoms and/or peak flow readings.
	Does asthma go away?

There is no once-and-for-all cure. However, about half of the children who develop asthma 'grow out of it' by the time they are adults. For many adults, asthma is variable with some good spells and some spells that are not so good. Some people are worse in the winter months, and some worse in the hay fever season. Although not curable, asthma is treatable. Stepping up the treatment for a while during bad spells will often control symptoms.

Some other general points about asthma

It is vital that you learn how to use your inhalers correctly. In some people, symptoms persist simply because they do not use their inhaler properly, and the drug from the inhaler does not get into the airways properly. See your practice nurse or doctor if you are not sure if you are using your inhaler properly.

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See a doctor or nurse if symptoms are not fully controlled, or if they are getting worse. For example, if:

›	A night time cough or wheeze is troublesome
›	Sport is being affected by symptoms
›	Your peak flow readings are lower than normal
›	You need a reliever inhaler more often than usual

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An adjustment in inhaler timings or doses may control these symptoms.

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See a doctor urgently if you develop severe symptoms that are not eased by a reliever inhaler. In particular, if you have difficulty talking due to shortness of breath. You may need emergency treatment with high dose reliever drugs and other treatments, sometimes in hospital. A severe asthma attack can be life-threatening.

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You should have an influenza immunisation every autumn (the 'flu jab') if you need continuous or repeated use of high dose inhaled steroids and/or take steroid tablets and/or have had an episode of asthma which needed hospital admission.


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