Asthma
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory lung condition, occurring when the airways become narrowed and inflamed. This makes it more difficult for air to flow in and out of the airways, resulting in breathing problems.1,2
Asthma is a very common condition, currently affecting over 8 million people in the UK. Each year in the UK, approximately 160,000 people are diagnosed with asthma, and more children are affected compared with adults.3
Although there is no specific cause of asthma, common triggers include:1,2
Smoking
Pollen
Exercise
Pollution
Dust mites
Cold air
Emotions e.g. anger, stress, laughter
Pets
Infections
Asthma can affect people of all ages and often starts during childhood, although it can also develop for the first time during adulthood.1
Asthma signs and symptoms:1
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic cough
- Chest tightness
Asthma can be diagnosed using different tests to check how well your lungs are working:4
- FeNO (nitric oxide) test: Measures the level of nitric oxide in your breath, a sign of inflammation in your lungs
- Spirometry: Measures how much air you can hold in your lungs
- Peak flow test: Measures how fast you can breathe out
Staying healthy
General health and wellbeing play a big role in the severity of symptoms experienced. Many experts believe that to improve lung health, you must take a wider, whole-body approach, rather than focussing on one specific area. This means focussing on lifestyle factors, such as:5–7
Nutrition
Exercise
Stress management
Sleep
Environment
Smoking cessation or avoiding exposure to smoke
Further support and resources
There are several charities and organisations in the UK dedicated to supporting individuals with asthma, raising awareness about the condition, funding research, and providing resources for patients and caregivers.
For resources to support you with managing your condition:
For help with quitting smoking:
For help with hay fever:
For guidance on asthma in the workplace
Air pollution and respiratory diseases
Although found everywhere, air pollution is most common in large, busy cities. Small airborne particles found in haze, smoke and dust present serious air quality problems. These small particles are formed during construction, in transport and in chemical industries. When inhaled, particles can enter the lungs, acting as direct irritants that cause the airways to swell and tighten, which leads to respiratory conditions and worsening of symptoms.8
Understand when air pollution is predicted to be high in your local area according to the Met Office.
The Clean Air movement
Global Action Plan’s Clean Air movement helps businesses make changes in their air pollution production and encourages governments to bring about systemic change.9
Get involved in the Global Action Plan to combat air pollution.
Patient Resources
If you’re a patient, or a carer of a patient, who has been prescribed one of our products, you’ll find information and resources to help manage your condition here
References
- NHS. Asthma. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Asthma causes and triggers. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/asthma/causes.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. What is the prevalence of asthma?. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/asthma/background-information/prevalence/.
- NHS. Asthma diagnosis. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/diagnosis.
- Allergy & Asthma Network. Lifestyle changes to manage asthma. Available at: https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/what-is-asthma/lifestyle-changes-to-manage-asthma/.
- NHS. Live well. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/.
- NHS. Living with asthma. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/living-with/.
- American Lung Association. Particle pollution. Available at: https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/what-makes-air-unhealthy/particle-pollution
- Global Action Plan. Action for Clean Air. Available at: https://www.actionforcleanair.org.uk/.