AsthMates - Asthma Support Community online

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What does who do about asthma?

WHO is committed to improving the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of asthma to reduce the global burden of NCDs and make progress towards universal health coverage. Asthma is a chronic lung disease affecting people of all ages. It is caused by inflammation and muscle tightening around the airways, which makes it harder to breathe.

What is asthma management?

Asthma management is multidisciplinary and aims to control the disease by minimising symptoms. A personalised asthma action plan and annual asthma review should be completed in all asthma patients. Alongside lifestyle measures, inhalers are the mainstay of treatment in asthma. Treatment should be escalated in a step-wise approach.

What causes asthma symptoms?

Many things can cause these symptoms, but they're more likely to be asthma if they: seem to happen in response to an asthma trigger like exercise or an allergy (such as to pollen or animals) See a GP if you think you or your child may have asthma, or you have asthma and are finding it hard to control.

How serious is asthma?

How serious asthma is varies from person to person. There are different types of asthma too. Someone with severe asthma (which affects around 5% of all people with asthma) can have symptoms most of the time and find them very hard to control.

Is asthma a lifelong condition?

Asthma is a lifelong condition. Although most people who have asthma will always have asthma, most people can be symptom-free with a good treatment and self-management plan. If you’ve been diagnosed with asthma as a child, your asthma might improve or disappear completely as you get older, particularly if the asthma was mild.

How many people are affected by asthma?

Asthma affected an estimated 262 million people in 2019 (1) and caused 455 000 deaths. Inhaled medication can control asthma symptoms and allow people with asthma to lead a normal, active life. Avoiding asthma triggers can also help to reduce asthma symptoms.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Common asthma symptoms are: Coughing. Wheezing. Breathlessness. Feeling of chest tightness. Asthma symptoms can range from mild to severe between different people and at different times in the same person. Each episode of asthma symptoms could last for an hour or so, or persist for days or weeks unless treated.

What Is AsthMates

1. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/asthma/
2. https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/asthma/diagnosing-asthma
3. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/asthma/symptoms-causes/syc-20369653
4. https://geekymedics.com/asthma/
5. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/asthma/diagnosis/diagnosis/
6. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/asthma
7. https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-gb/home/lung-and-airway-disorders/asthma/asthma

AsthMates Information

1. https://patient.info/chest-lungs/asthma-leaflet
2. https://asthmaandallergy.org.uk/asthma-information/
3. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/lungs-and-airways/asthma
4. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng80?UID=583105313202310320216