Asthma

What can you do to prevent it and improve your self-care?

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Published: Monday, 07 November 2016 11:14

The exact cause of asthma is unknown. However, research suggests there are a number of things that can increase your chances of developing it. These include:

• a family history of asthma or related allergic conditions (known as atopic conditions) such as eczema, food allergy or hay fever
• having another atopic condition yourself
• having bronchiolitis (a common childhood lung infection) as a child
• exposure to tobacco smoke as a child
• your mother smoking during pregnancy 
• being born prematurely or with a low birth weight

Some people may also be at risk of developing asthma through their job.

While most of these factors are beyond an individual's control, there are a few ways that someone can minimise their risk of asthma developing. It also demonstrates how a person's health and lifestyle choices can impact on others, particularly their children.

Contact details for local sources of help.

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Published: Monday, 07 November 2016 10:47

See the contact details for the lifestyle matters section of our website.

Asthma UK

Working to stop asthma attacks and, ultimately, cure asthma by funding world leading research and scientists, campaigning for change and supporting people with asthma to reduce their risk of a potentially life threatening asthma attack.

website: https://www.asthma.org.uk/

Speak to an asthma expert nurse on the helpline - 0300 222 5800, between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Visit their contact page for more ways of getting in touch.

British Lung Foundation

The only UK charity looking after the nation’s lungs, working towards a day when everyone breathes clean air with healthy lungs.

Find local asthma support here.

What if you already have asthma?

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Published: Monday, 07 November 2016 10:48

Treatment for asthma involves two activities:

• relieving symptoms
• identifying triggers to help prevent future symptoms and attacks

This approach consists largely of using medication to tackle any emerging symptoms and adjusting your lifestyle to reduce the risk of triggering your asthma.

If you have asthma you should have a personal action plan agreed with your doctor or nurse and this should include information on the medicines you need to take, how to recognise if your symptoms are getting worse and what to do if/when they do.