World Asthma Day – 7th May 2019
Asthma is a lifelong condition that affects your airways carrying air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, you have sensitive airways that are inflamed and can react if they come into contact with something they do not like. The lungs react by:
- The muscles around the walls of the airway tightening, becoming narrower
- Lining becomes inflamed and start to swell.
- Sticky mucus or phlegm builds up which narrows the airways even more.
Facts
- 5.4 million have asthma in the UK
- 1 in every 11 people, which is one in every five households
- ¼ of a million with severe asthma climbing the stairs can feel like a marathon.
- Every 10 seconds someone has a potentially life-threatening asthma attack in the UK
- Most recent figures to date are in 2016 1410 people died from asthma
As I have said, asthma is a lifelong condition. Most people who have asthma will always have asthma. Asthma diagnosed as a child will often improve or disappear as the person gets older. If it goes away it can come back in later life with new triggers such as more air pollution, pregnancy. The good news is there are lots of effective treatments.
Coping with Asthma
Be aware of your triggers here are some:
- Stress
- Moulds
- Pollen
- Dust mites
- Chest infections
- Food
- Colds/Flu
- Cigarette smoke
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy management will assist you with either phlegm clearance, your feelings of shortness of breath and general physical activity.
Respiratory physiotherapy treatments may consist of:
- Breathing retraining
- Buteyko breathing technique – this is specific to reduce hyperinflation
- Muscle training
- Physical activity – tightness and wheeze can deter from carrying out exercise as there is a feeling of fear
- Manual techniques – such as percussion, shaking and the use of postural drainage
It is important you have your symptoms reviewed annually
- Know your medication
- Know your triggers
- Get help if your symptoms worsen
- Keep physically active
References:
British guideline on the management of asthma SIGN
