Asthma

What is
Asthma?  Is your Asthma
well-controlled? Asthma Triggers
and how to avoid Asthma Treatments
and how to use devices How to use
inhalers and devices What do to in
an Asthma attack Allergic Rhinitis –
triggers and avoidance Instructional booklets,
leaflets, flyers and videos

Did you know? 

• In Bermuda, it is estimated that over 8,000 people have asthma, with approximately 1 in 7 children and 1 in 10 adults.
• Asthma is common, distressing, disabling, misunderstood, life-threatening and TREATABLE!
• YOU CAN lead a full, active, unrestricted life with asthma:
  • No coughing, wheezing, tight chest or shortness of breath.
  • No waking at night.
  • No time off school or work.
  • No more visits to the Emergency Room.
  • No admissions to hospital.
  • Huge savings in healthcare.
  • Full participation in all activities, including sports.

Asthma is a condition that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs.

• If you have asthma your airways are extra sensitive.
• When you come into contact with something you are allergic to, or with something that irritates your airways (a trigger), your airways will become narrower, making it harder to breathe.
• The muscles around the airways tighten.  The lining becomes inflamed and swollen.  Sticky mucous if often produced.
• During an asthma attack, the airway lining starts to swell, the muscles tighten, and mucus is secreted.

Symptoms of Asthma

• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Tightness in the chest

Not everyone will get all of these symptoms.  Asthma varies from day to day, person to person and may come and go throughout your life.

Why did I get Asthma?

Asthma can start at any age.  Some people get symptoms during childhood, which then disappear.
Others develop 'late-onset' asthma in adulthood, without ever having had symptoms as a child.
It is difficult to say for sure what causes asthma, but we do know that:

you are most likely to develop asthma if you have a family history of asthma, eczema or nasal or food allergies.  These conditions are know as 'atopy' or 'atopic conditions'.

many aspects of modern lifestyles - such as changes in housing and diet and a more hygienic environment - may have contributed to the rise of asthma over the last few decades.

smoking during pregnancy increases the chance of a child developing asthma symptoms.

 

REMEMBER - Asthma is TREATABLE - No one needs to suffer with Asthma.

 

IS YOUR ASTHMA WELL-CONTROLLED?

1. Do you have asthma symptoms more than twice a week? (cough, wheeze, tight chest)
2. Do you use your 'reliever' inhaler (normally blue, sometimes red) more than twice a week?
3. Do you ever wake at night with asthma?
4. Do you ever have to miss school, work or any activity/exercise due to asthma?

(If your answer is 'YES' to ANY of these questions - seek Asthma education!)

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR ASTHMA!

See your doctor annually – make sure you have the RIGHT diagnosis and the RIGHT treatment.

Get asthma education from a trained asthma educator.

Talk with your pharmacist.  Know how and when to take your inhalers.

Have a Personal Asthma Action Plan – learn how to recognize when your asthma is getting worse.

Know what to do in an acute asthma episode (Asthma Attack)

Take your preventer inhaler daily.

Avoid your triggers.

Lead a full, active and unrestricted life.

An Asthma Trigger is anything that irritates your sensitive airways and may cause asthma symptoms.
It is impossible to avoid all triggers, but avoiding as many as possible will help you control your asthma.

Viral infections (cold and flu)

• Wash hands regularly.
• Open windows (if possible) to improve ventilation, especially in nurseries and classrooms
• Keep up to date with vaccines.
• Avoid people who are unwell (if possible).

Allergens (such as dust-mites, mold, pollen, grasses, animal dander and cockroaches)

• Replace pillows every year, wash in hot water often and dry thoroughly.
• Wood and tile floors are much better than carpet and rugs.
• Soft toys should be placed in the freezer weekly for 6 hours to kill the dust mites.
• Wash bed linen in hot water weekly.
• Visible mold must be treated with white vinegar.
• Avoid having flowers inside,(especially Easter Lilies).
• Avoid keeping animals inside.
• Do not use insect sprays to treat cockroaches.

Irritants (such as household cleaning chemicals, air-fresheners, sprays and plug-ins, essential oils, perfume, paint, varnishes, diesel fumes and smoke)

• Do not use household sprays or aerosols.
• Clean without chemicals - microfiber cloths with water or vinegar, steam cleaner, damp mop and vacuum (do not sweep).
• Do not use air fresheners, plug ins, essential oils, candles or diffusers.
• Use house plants to freshen the air.
• Open windows to encourage good ventilation.
• Limit all scented personal products - perfume, shampoos, lotions.
• Do not allow tobacco, marijuana or vaping in your home.  Be aware that smoke remains on clothes, furniture, in the car, etc.
• Walk in parks, along trails and beaches instead of busy roads to avoid fumes.
• Watch the weather forecast as high humidity, extreme cold, thunderstorms and hurricanes can affect your asthma.

Exercise – those who experience asthma symptoms only when they exercise, may simply have poor controlled asthma.    Take your preventer as prescribed (usually daily).

Other – Hormones, emotions and stress may also affect your asthma.

TIPS: 

• There is little we can do about the weather! Be aware.
• When humidity is very high use an air-conditioner ensuring that filters are cleaned regularly.
• In extreme cold weather when overseas wear a scarf over your nose and mouth.
• Hurricanes means blinds will be closed, electricity lost, fans and air-conditioners cannot be used, the air becomes stagnant and hot resulting in indoor mold. Outside debris will be flying, leaves falling, excessive rain will encourage mold to grow in abundance. Be prepared to adjust asthma medications to avoid flare up. Keep calm as anxiety will only make asthma symptoms worse.

Asthma treatments/medications are safe and effective.

There are two main kinds of asthma treatments:

Controllers/Preventers

Controller inhalers stop your airways from being so sensitive.

They may take 7 to 10 days to be effective.

The protective effect builds up over several weeks.

 

It is important that you take your controller every day to keep your asthma away!

 

Relievers/Rescue

Quick reliever inhalers are taken to relieve asthma symptoms

(cough, wheeze & tight chest).

They quickly relax the muscles surrounding the narrowed airways (within 5-10 minutes), making it easier to breath again.

If you need your reliever inhaler more than twice a week, talk to your doctor - you may need a controller inhaler.

This is because reliever inhalers do not reduce the swelling in your airways.

 

NEW TREATMENT - SMART therapy

Asthma UK has created an excellent resource with regards to how to take inhalers and devices.

Please use this link to access ‘how to videos’ regarding your particular inhaler device.

Link to UK videos :

www.asthma.org.uk/inhalervideos

Using a spacer with your inhaler can increase the effectiveness and efficiency of medication reaching the lungs where it is most needed.   Approximately 90% of people using spacers are using them incorrectly.

Sometimes, no matter how careful you are about taking your asthma medicines and avoiding your triggers, you may find that you have an asthma attack often associated with a viral infections or flu.

Remember children under 2 years are difficult to treat as airways are very small and medications are difficult to give effectively.

Signs of an asthma attack -

• Coughing incessantly, quick reliever/emergency inhaler not helpful.
• Short of breath.
• Tight Chest.

Severe attack -

• Lips and finger tips turning blue.
• Can’t speak in sentences.

GO TO EMERGENCY NOW!  

Allergic Rhinitis, sinus allergies or ‘asthma of the nose’, as it is sometimes called, is very common and left untreated makes you feel tired, exhausted and sometimes it is difficult to concentrate.

Allergic Rhinitis should be treated every day during the season when you have symptoms and year-round if necessary.

Many people with allergic rhinitis develop asthma at some time during their life.

Who is likely to develop Allergic Rhinitis?

The tendency to have allergies is often hereditary, although allergies to specific substances are not, as these are acquired by exposure to the irritant. Allergic rhinitis and other symptoms of allergy usually develop by age 10 and peak in a person in their early twenties; allergies often become less severe or disappear in older adulthood.

What are the symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis?

Symptoms vary, but can include:

• Runny nose (clear nasal discharge)
• Itchy, bloodshot, or runny eyes
• Irritated nose or throat
• Nasal congestion
• Sneezing
• Blocked ears
• Dark circles under the eyes
• Trouble breathing.

Treatment options

Antihistamines

Claritin is safe and effective and lasts 24 hours.

It is available without a prescription and does not make you feel drowsy.  Claritin D also has a decongestant and may help until you get your rhinitis well controlled.

Zyrtec - On prescription in Bermuda is safe and effective and lasts 24 hours.  It is not supposed to make you feel drowsy however, some people do complain of drowsiness while taking it.

Phenergan, Benadryl and Piriton are all non prescription antihistamines.  Will make you drowsy so should only be taken at night.

Other treatment options

Singulair once a day prescription treatment.

Unfortunately Singular is not effective for everyone.

Preventative prescription nasal sprays

Avamys, Alestin, Flixonase, Nosacort, and Rhinocort are available in Bermuda.

A safe topical steroid must be used every day during the season when you have symptoms.

Click here for flyer.