There are no health professionals on the mums world admin team. All information had been gathered from reputable websites which will be listed at the end of the topic. Becks & Lilly.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a condition that affects the lungs and can make breathing difficult, this happens because the tubes in the lungs tighten and the insides swell, reducing the amount of room there is for the air to get in and out. If you think of a nettle brushing against your arm, the body reacts to that by producing a red itchy and swollen rash, the same happens to the tubes in your lungs when you breathe in something that your body does not like. It also produces a thick mucus to stop the irritant going any further into your lungs, but contributing to the difficulty in breathing
It is hard to fully diagnose asthma properly in under 5s because they cannot use a test called a peakflow, where air is blown into a device to measure how much air is in the lungs.
Treatments for asthma
For children, the best way of using inhalers is through a volumatic (otherwise known as a spacer) this is just a plastic bubble that the inhaler can be sprayed into, the child can then breathe in and out of the other end and get the medicine slowly. It is much easier than trying to get them to breathe and press down the inhaler at the same time.
Most people with asthma will have a blue inhaler, this is called a reliever and is used when they are struggling with their breathing. This works on the muscles on the outside of the tubes in the lungs and makes them relax so that the air can get through easier. This should be carried around at all times as you never know when it might be needed.
Sometimes people are given another inhaler and told to use it morning and night, this is called a preventor inhaler and can be many different colours. This works on the inside of the tubes and creates a barrier so that the body doesnt react when it breathes something in that you dont like. This barrier needs to be constantly added to, so this needs to be used as prescribed daily even if they seem a lot better.
Occasionally if the asthma gets really bad they may need some tablets called steroids. These will be taken for a few days just to give the body a boost.
What to do if somebody is having an asthma attack
1) Stay calm - if you panic then they will panic and this will make their breathing even faster
2) Get their blue inhaler and get them to use it (the dose will vary from person to person but if you dont know then try 2 puffs, leave a few minutes and try another
3) Try not to leave them alone, shout for help or use a phone to call for help, if absolutely necessary go to get help
4) If you are still concerned then call 999 and ask for an ambulance, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Even if they are feeling better by the time they arrive they may need to be taken to the hospital just to be checked out
Where to get help and advice
1) Go to your doctor, try and make a note before the appointment of symptoms and days/times that they had them - this will help the doctor to diagnose the correct problem (asthma or not) sooner
2) Your pharmacist - If the dr says it is asthma then your child may be given an inhaler, the pharmacist can make sure that you know how to use this properly
3) http://www.asthma.org.uk/ has a lot of useful information and you can order leaflets and inhaler sticker charts free of charge
4) 0800 121 62 44 - this is a freephone number and the people who answer the phones are all trained asthma nurses. They can answer any questions you may have
What to tell the school
1) You can get a school card from the asthmaUK website where you can fill in all the details about the childs asthma and hand it in
2) Make sure an inhaler is kept in the school with easy access in an emergency and that numerous staff know where it is
3) If your doctor has advised they do the inhaler before exercise (not always necessary) then make sure they know to do it before PE
4) If the school are concerned then they can contact AsthmaUK and a representative will go out to the school and talk to the teachers and/or pupils and make sure they all know what to do/not do. This is a free of charge service
There are many positive role models who have achieved great things while also having asthma, such as Paula Radcliffe, David Beckham and Stephen Fry
Many thanks to Asthma UK for their support on this topic this evening. Feedback upon this topic is gratefully received. PP’s will resume shortly but in the meantime please check out “Posts by others” (http://www.facebook.com/WorldofMum?filter=2 ).
Enjoy the rest of your evening and thanks joining us this evening. Becks and Lilly
Shocking Statistics
3 People die EVERY day in the UK from asthma
90% of asthma related deaths are preventable
On average there are 2 children in every classroom who have asthma
If you are monitored regularly by a doctor and follow what you are told then there is no reason asthma should stop you doing anything
There is no cure for asthma but if treated properly then you can live a life where it is barely noticeable
5.4 Million people in the world have asthma
1.1 Million Children in the world have asthma (1 in 11)
4.3 Million Adults in the world have asthma (1 in 12)
75% of Hospital Admissions from Asthma are avoidable
The UK has among the highest prevalence rates of asthma symptoms in children worldwide
Every 18 minutes a child is admitted to hospital in the UK because of their asthma
The NHS spends around £1 billion a year treating and caring for people with asthma
In 2008/09 up to 1.1 million working days were lost due to breathing or lung problems
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