Asthma

Asthma is usually ‘episodic’. There are periods of time when you have asthma symptoms, but in between you are generally well, even for periods of many years. The severity and duration of symptoms vary and are difficult to predict.

If your child has asthma, the good news is that the earlier the asthma started, the less serious the condition. Most children who develop asthma under two years of age become symptom-free by mid-childhood. However, if ‘atopic’ children (those prone to allergic reactions) develop asthma at this early stage, their asthma is likely to be more persistent.

Talk to your doctor or nurse about how severe your asthma is and the long-term outlook.

• If your asthma is mild to moderate, your asthma may improve over time, and many adults even become symptom-free.
• Even in severe cases, some adults with asthma may experience improvement, depending on the degree of obstruction in the lungs and the timeliness and effectiveness of treatment.

In about one in 10 people with severe, persistent asthma, the structure of the walls of the airways changes, which leads to progressive problems in lung function.

Whatever the severity, lung function declines faster than average in people with asthma, particularly in those who smoke and those who produce a lot of mucus (phlegm). If you have high levels of mucus production, this indicates poor control of your asthma.

Self care
Self care is an integral part of daily life and is all about you taking responsibility for your own health and well-being with support from the people involved in your care. Self care includes the actions you take for yourself every day in order to stay fit and maintain good physical and mental health, prevent illness or accidents and care more effectively for minor ailments and long term conditions.  People living with long term conditions can benefit enormously from being supported to self care - they can live longer, have less pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue, have a better quality of life and be more active and independent.

With the right treatment and management, asthma shouldn’t restrict your daily life.

• Sleeping
  Asthma symptoms are often worse at night. This means you might wake up some nights coughing or with a tight chest. This will obviously disrupt your sleep. Achieving good control of asthma by using the treatment your GP recommends will reduce your symptoms, so you should sleep better.
• Exercise
  Some people with asthma find that exercise triggers asthma symptoms. This doesn’t mean you should avoid it, as physical activity will improve lung function and general health. Talk to your doctor about what to do before exercising, for example, using your inhaler before or after exercise to prevent symptoms.
• Social life
  You should be able to enjoy a full social life, unaffected by your asthma. However, it’s a good idea to avoid cigarette smoke, which is now much easier since the introduction of the smoking ban.
• Diet
  Most people with asthma can eat a normal diet. Occasionally, people with asthma may have allergic triggers, and will need to avoid foods such as cow’s milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, yeast products, nuts and some food colourings and preservatives. But this is rare.

Want to know more?

• Your health, your way: what is self care?

If you have asthma, you should be able to work normally. But if your asthma is poorly controlled you may have to take time off work or school.

Some adults find their asthma is made worse by dust or fumes at work. This is known as work-aggravated asthma. Other people have occupational asthma. In this case, your asthma is consistently worse on your days at work and a specific cause (called a respiratory sensitiser) is identified in your workplace.

For either of these types of asthma, talk to your employer as soon as possible about relocating so that you are no longer exposed to the sensitiser that's causing your asthma. Ideally this should be done within 12 months of the first work-related symptoms of asthma. Studies have shown that  people who remain exposed to the trigger after one year of symptoms, have worse asthma than those removed earlier.

Sometimes it may be possible for your workplace to use an alternative to the trigger factor causing your asthma (for example, a different solvent or chemical). If this isn't possible, the risk may be reduced by installing extractor fans, isolating you from the process that causes the risk, or using breathing equipment to stop you inhaling the sensitiser.

Your employer has a legal duty to deal with respiratory sensitisers in the workplace.

Want to know more?

• Read the health and Safety Executive's guidance on asthma and the workplace. 
• Find out more about occupational asthma. 

Asthma is classed as a disability if it has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. This impairment must:

• have lasted for 12 months, or
• be likely to last 12 months, or
• be of a recurring nature where a recurrence is likely in a 12-month period.

If you or your child has care or mobility needs because of asthma, you may be entitled to benefits.

Occupational asthma
If you develop asthma because of your work and this is fully documented by your doctor and your employer, you can make a claim for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit from the Benefits Agency. This pays £20-£100 a week to people with asthma that was caused by certain respiratory sensitisers. You can still claim even if your respiratory sensitiser is not on this list, as long as it's a 'known sensitiser' (a complete list is available from the Health and Safety Executive).

If you want to take legal action against your employer because of occupational asthma, your lawyer must act within three years of diagnosis.

Want to know more?

• Find out more about disability benefits.
• Find out more about Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (diseases and deafness).

Many people with a long-term health condition experience feelings of stress, anxiety and depression.

You may find it helpful to talk about your experience of asthma with others in a similar position. Patient organisations have local groups where you can meet others who have been diagnosed with asthma and undergone treatment. 

If you're experiencing feelings of depression, talk to your GP. They will be able to provide advice and support.

Want to know more?

• Chat about asthma online at Asthma UK’s forum.