Asthma is a common condition that affects millions of people, causing inflammation in the airways and difficulty breathing.
Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
Family history of atopy (allergic conditions like eczema or hay fever) can also increase the likelihood of asthma.
Why Asthma Management Still Needs Improvement
Whilst many people may view their asthma as mild, good control and prevention of deterioration are key.
For some people, asthma can be extremely serious. The National Review of Asthma Deaths, published by the Royal College of Physicians in 2014, found that two-thirds of asthma deaths were preventable.
Despite the recommendations in this report, 12,000 people in the UK have died from asthma attacks since the publication over ten years ago.
Tens of thousands of people are admitted to hospital for life-threatening asthma attacks each year.
The Importance of an Asthma Action Plan
It is crucial for every individual, both child and adult, to have an asthma action plan in place, and schools should always have a copy to ensure early recognition of deterioration and prompt action during emergencies.
This can be developed with your GP practice/asthma nurse and should be reviewed at least every year.
You can find a blank copy of an asthma management plan to be completed with your health care provider here.
New NICE Guidelines: A Simpler Way to Diagnose Asthma
Recent changes in guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have made diagnosing asthma easier with the introduction of a simple test called FeNO (exhaled nitric oxide).
This test measures the level of nitric oxide in the breath, which is often elevated in people with asthma. In addition, blood tests for raised eosinophils (cells that increase with allergies) are now also used in adults, while children over 5 are tested with FeNO alone in the first instance.
If these tests don’t indicate asthma, further breathing tests can be carried out if needed.
In children under five, carrying out these tests can be challenging, so clinical history and a trial of asthma treatment are key for diagnosis, but it is important that this trial is reviewed to assess progress and to decide when the trial should be paused.
What Is FeNO Testing and How Does It Work?
FeNO is also used to monitor asthma and guide treatment decisions in people who already have an asthma diagnosis.
If a person needs to use their reliever inhaler more than twice a week, their asthma is considered poorly controlled and should be reviewed by a healthcare professional.
Active airway inflammation can be measured using FeNO and treatment adjusted as a result.
Updated Inhalers and Treatment Pathways
Asthma management has evolved with the new guidelines, with new first-line inhalers recommended for those newly diagnosed, along with clearer pathways for escalating treatment in people with poorly controlled asthma.
Quick Tips for Better Asthma Control
• If you have symptoms of asthma but no diagnosis, book a GP appointment
• New technologies and guidelines mean that asthma can be diagnosed quickly and easily
• If you have asthma – even if you feel it is mild – good monitoring and control are key
• Always take your inhalers as prescribed
• If you haven’t had an asthma review in the last year, book an appointment
• Everyone with asthma should have an asthma action plan that is reviewed at least annually – schools should have a copy of this for children
• If you need your reliever inhaler more than twice a week, you may be at risk of a serious asthma attack, and your treatment needs review
• If you have had to attend the hospital for your asthma, consider a follow-up review after 48 hours with a healthcare provider to ensure your symptoms are resolving.
• Asthma can be life-threatening – always take it seriously and ask for help if anything changes.
Asthma Care at Kent Family Medical
At Kent Family Medical, we are proud to offer FeNO testing using the NO Breath device, manufactured by Bedfont Scientific, a local company in Harrietsham.
We are launching asthma packages that align with the new guidelines to provide comprehensive, doctor-led asthma diagnosis and management.