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More than one million Britons are at risk of an asthma attack putting their lives at risk because they do not use their inhaler properly, warned a charity.
A survey conducted by Asthma UK with more than 10,000 patients suggests that nearly one in five (19%) fails to have their inhalation technique checked by their general practitioner or asthma nurse. .
National guidelines state that all asthmatics should have their inhalation technique examined as part of their annual checkup.
Failure to properly use an inhaler means that the full dose of medication can not reach the lungs, with much of the medication remaining in the mouth or throat.
More than one million asthmatics risk attacks because they do not use their inhaler properly
In the UK, 5.4 million people are treated for asthma, including 4.3 million adults, according to British statistics on asthma.
Tragically, three people die every day in the United Kingdom, two-thirds of which can be prevented.
And in the United States, more than 26 million people suffer from asthma, according to the American Foundation Against Asthma and Allergies.
Dr. Andy Whittamore, clinical manager at Asthma UK and practicing general practitioner, said, "Inhalers are the basic treatment for most people with asthma.
"So it's really worrisome that many people do not take them properly or have their technique checked by their family doctor or their asthma nurse.
"With so many different types of inhalers that are all used in different ways, it can be difficult for patients and health professionals to know the proper way to use them.
"It is also easy for patients to take bad habits or simply forget the best technique after their appointments, especially if they use a new type of inhaler.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a common but incurable condition that affects small tubes inside the lungs.
This can cause inflammation or swelling, which limits the airways and makes breathing more difficult.
The disease affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood. Symptoms may improve or even disappear with age, but may return to adulthood.
Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, tight chest and cough, and these symptoms can worsen during an asthma attack.
Treatment usually involves medications that are inhaled to calm the lungs.
Triggers for the disease include allergies, dust, air pollution, exercise and infections like colds or the flu.
If you think that you or your child have asthma, you should see a doctor because it can lead to more serious complications such as fatigue or lung infections.
Source: NHS
"But even a small change in the way a person uses his inhaler can make a huge difference and could prevent a life-threatening asthma attack."
Asthma UK asked 10,064 patients if their inhalation technique had been monitored by a general practitioner or an asthma nurse during the past year.
Of these, 15% said they had not pbaded control, and 4% did not remember it.
According to these figures – and data suggesting that 5.4 million Britons are asthmatic – 1,026,000 people have not had their inhalation technique checked, according to the charity.
Asthma UK uses doctors, asthma nurses and pharmacists to help patients avoid attacks by helping them with their inhaler technique.
But with dozens of inhalers to be taken in different ways, it can be difficult for health professionals to know how they work.
An earlier study suggests that nine out of ten health workers do not know how to demonstrate the correct use of an inhaler.
In addition to the risk of asthma attack in patients, an incorrect technique may also result in the persistence of the drug in the mouth, resulting in thrush or sore throat.
To help both patients and healthcare professionals, Asthma UK has collected nine videos, each lasting just a few minutes, that show the correct way to use different inhalers.
This comes after the Asthma UK nurses, who provide support via a hotline, received more than 3,000 calls last year from people needing help with their inhaler.
The most common mistake that asthmatics make is to breathe with too much force or force, not to breathe deeply enough or to properly prepare their inhaler, for example by shaking it, warned them. charity.
If people are struggling to get their proper inhalation technique, it can be helpful to use a spacer, adds Asthma UK.
It is a hollow chamber that attaches to the inhaler and allows the drug to penetrate more easily into the lungs, which helps to reduce the risk of side effects.
AN ASTHMATIC MAN AT 44 IS HOSPITALIZED 48 TIMES AND SHOULD BE REMAINING AT 25 OCCASIONS AFTER HAVING BEEN REVISED FROM HIS INHALER
Paul Wilson (pictured) was hospitalized 48 times after missing his annual inhaler exams. After finally seeing an asthma specialist nurse, he mastered his condition and is photographed after running the London Marathon for Asthma in the UK last year.
An asthmatic man was hospitalized 48 times after ignoring his annual inhaler exams.
Paul Wilson, 44, of Beith, near Glasgow, even had to be resuscitated 25 times when he missed the essential appointments.
"My asthma has been transported to the hospital countless times. I have been given drops, nebulizers and even intensive care, "he said.
"But I never really thought about how to manage my asthma or how to use my inhaler properly.
"Looking back, I was just taking a whiff and hoping for the best."
Although Mr. Wilson was optimistic, it would do the trick, but his condition worsened dramatically.
"My symptoms were getting so bad that I had an asthma attack every week," he said.
"I woke up in the middle of the night, out of breath and had the impression that someone was sitting on my chest.
Desperate, Mr. Wilson finally made an appointment with an asthma nurse.
"They said that the way I used my inhaler meant that only 10 to 20% of the drugs went into my lungs," he said.
"They showed me the right inhalation technique and even gave me a tab to use. The impact on asthma is incredible. I even ran the London Marathon for Asthma UK last year.
"I never thought that such a simple thing could completely change my life."
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