Asthma
Now is the right time to check if your asthma is under control.
If one or more of the following applies, take the quiz to find out how we may be able to help:
Use your reliever inhaler more than twice per week
Have taken oral corticosteroid tablets within the last 12 months
Wake up breathless in the night
Experience shortness of breath in the morning
Have been admitted to hospital for your asthma in the last 12 months
Limit your activities in any way to avoid an asthma attack
Open the questionnaire
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a long-term lung condition in which a person’s sensitive airways react to triggers resulting in a flare-up. During a flare-up, the muscles around the airways squeeze themselves tight, causing the airways to swell and become narrow. This along with mucous build-up leads to difficulty in breathing.
Common asthma triggers
The inflamed airways show sensitivity to environmental allergens, irritants and weather conditions that may trigger an asthma attack in a child. It is quite common for respiratory infections such as cold, flu, pneumonia, sore throats and allergic rhinitis to trigger an asthma.
Environmental allergens: dust mites, cockroaches, pollen, moulds, pet dander and rodents
Irritants in air: bushfire smoke, pollution, dust particles, chalk dust, and strong odours from chemicals, paints, perfumes, scented soaps and petrol
Physical exercise: and other activities that make children breathe harder, especially in cold weather conditions
Weather conditions: Dry winds and cold air
Expressing strong emotions: yelling, crying, fear, anger, excitement, panic attacks, anxiety and depression
Symptoms to watch out for
While symptoms often vary based on severity of inflammation in lungs, these are some common asthma symptoms:
Wheezing
Breathlessness
Tightness in chest
Continuous coughing
Symptoms may aggravate at nights, early mornings and during/just after physical activity. If your child’s asthma is well managed, the symptoms may occur only occasionally.
How to prevent and manage asthma attacks in children?
Asthma is a long-term lung condition in which a person’s sensitive airways react to triggers resulting in a flare-up. During a flare-up, the muscles around the airways squeeze themselves tight, causing the airways to swell and become narrow.
This along with mucous build up leads to difficulty in breathing. flare-up can occur gradually over hours, days or weeks; or very quickly over minutes. A sudden or severe flare-up is commonly known as an asthma attack.
Inhaler medications and spacers for managing asthma
Preventers – They reduce inflammation in the airways, which helps to better control the frequency and severity of asthma flare-ups.
Relievers – Blue/grey relievers provide short-term relief from asthma symptoms by relaxing narrowed airway muscles. Relievers do not treat the underlying problem of airway inflammation and excess mucous production.
Spacers – A spacer is a tube-like device that attaches to an asthma inhaler. It allows more medication to reach the lungs and makes it easier for your child to take their metered dose without having to worry about perfecting the technique.
Who should use a spacer?
Spacers can be used by adults and children with their inhalers on a routine basis. A spacer can be particularly helpful during an asthma attack when the person may be a bit stressed and find it difficult to use the inhaler by itself.
Teach your child to use the inhaler with a spacer:
Shake the inhaler well.
Remove cap and fit the inhaler into the back of the spacer.
Ask your child to put the mouthpiece of the spacer into their mouth and form a good seal with their lips.
If your child is very young, you will need to fit their spacer with a mask.
Fire one puff from the inhaler canister to deliver one dose of medicine into the spacer.
Ask your child to breathe normally, into and out of the spacer, four times.
If a second dose has been prescribed shake the inhaler again and repeat above steps.
Speak to your local MediADVICE Pharmacist for expert advice on managing your asthma if you are using reliever medication more than two days a week.
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