Asthma 

Asthma is a common condition that causes breathing difficulties including coughing, wheezing, tightness of the chest and breathlessness. Most people with asthma who take the appropriate treatment can live normal lives, but left untreated, asthma can cause permanent damage to the airways.
It affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood although it can also develop for the first time in adults.

Stay on top of your asthma with a regular asthma review

Monitoring asthma

Regular monitoring of your asthma is important to ensure your symptoms are under control and treatment is working effectively. Each year you will be contacted by the Practice to attend a review. 

If you have any concerns about your asthma, please get in touch with us at the practice. 

A regular asthma review could help you keep free of symptoms and cut your risk of an asthma attack.                                            

This is a great opportunity to talk to your GP about:

• symptoms getting in the way of things you want to do
• asthma attacks – whether you’ve had one, or you’re scared of having one
• rewview medicines - how they help, and any side effects
• stop smoking advice and other ways to help you avoid asthma symptoms
• check your inhaler technique
• update your written asthma action plan

Treatment of asthma 

There isn't a cure for asthma. However, treatments are available to help manage your symptoms. Your treatment plan will be individual to you, combining medicines and asthma management in a way that works best for you.

Living with asthma 

Medicines are only part of your treatment for asthma. You will also need to deal with the things that make it worse. Keep a diary to record anything that triggers your asthma - this can help you to discover a pattern. Using a peak flow meter to monitor your lung function can also help. If you have repeatedly low readings in a certain situation (for example, at the end of a working day, after exercise or after contact with an animal) this may indicate the trigger.

If your symptoms are deteriorating or you have any concerns, please make an appointment to the respiratory nurse or a doctor as well.

We strongly encourage you to attend your yearly annual review appointments to ensure your asthma management action plan is up to date and your long-term condition is safely monitored and controlled.
The Practice will invite you in each year, when you are due to attend.