Meet the team
This month, meet Anita. Anita is one of our Respiratory Nurse Specialists on the helpline.
She’s been a Respiratory Nurse Specialist for over 30 years and at Asthma + Lung UK for two years. Throughout her career she has supported people and their families with all lung diseases and worked in clinical research for respiratory illness. She is passionate about helping to improve quality of life for those living with a lung condition. She has special interests in disease of the upper airways and the emotional impact of respiratory illness.
Top five questions on the helpline this month
Here are some of the top questions we've had this month:
- My salbutamol (brand names include salamol and ventolin) is being removed from my prescription list, why?
- I am struggling with symptoms - how do I have better conversations with my health care professional?
- How do I manage my seasonal summer allergies?
- How can I manage my COPD symptoms better?
- I’m having side effects - is it my inhaler?
Why has my medication been changed?
On the helpline this month, we’ve noticed an increase in calls from people asking why their asthma medication has been changed, for example, why salbutamol (brand names include salamol and ventolin) has been removed from their prescription list. For people with asthma there is increasing scientific evidence to show that people who need to use a lot of their salbutamol reliever should have their asthma checked and tried on better preventer treatment. New national guidelines, written by the UK's top asthma specialists are recommending that most people with asthma (aged 12 and over) should not be prescribed a blue reliever and should be replaced with MART or AIR inhalers which are safer and better at reducing symptoms, flare-ups and hospital admissions.
If you are unsure about whether you are on MART or AIR, or think that you should be, call our helpline or speak to your asthma team or pharmacist. If you are on a blue reliever inhaler and using it 3 or more times per week, make an appointment with your GP or asthma team to review your asthma
Your GP may recommend changing your medicines to help you find the best treatment plan for managing your asthma.
What if my symptoms are getting worse?
Your GP or asthma nurse may suggest changing your inhaler and medicines if your asthma symptoms are getting worse. Your GP will only consider changing your medicines or inhaler if they consider it safe.
They may prescribe a MART (Maintenance and Reliever Therapy) inhaler if:
- you're on an AIR-only treatment plan to relieve symptoms, but you need to use your inhaler more often. This can be a sign that your asthma symptoms are not well controlled.
- you're using a separate preventer and reliever inhaler, but you're still getting regular asthma symptoms.
On a MART treatment plan, you take your inhaler every day as prescribed, as well as when you get symptoms.
It’s important that you're happy with your asthma treatment. The right inhaler is the one you have confidence with and are happy taking. If you have any concerns, you can speak to your GP, asthma nurse or pharmacist. They're there to help you find the best treatment for you. Our In-house GP, Dr Andy Whittamore, explains how to get better care for your lung condition in his blog.
What if I'm having side effects?
Side effects can be common when using an inhaler. Using the correct inhaler technique is important because it means that your medicine will work properly but can help reduce any oral side effects. You can also speak to a pharmacist or use our short inhaler videos to check your technique. If you experience any side effects it is important these are discussed with your health care provider.
Support group spotlight
Feel Good Fridays are our chair-based Zumba classes.
These sessions are designed to be fun, improve your breathlessness, and increase your mobility.
We meet online every Friday from 10.30am to 11.15am.
Our instructor Anne Little has been teaching chair dance classes for older adults and those with limited movement for around 7 years. She says:
"The laughter and smiles we see at our Feel Good Friday sessions are a joy to behold!. Our beneficiaries feel comfortable to dance at a level that feels just right for them that day."
Find out more and register.
Thanks for reading this month’s blog. Stay tuned for next month’s edition.
Get support
Call our helpline for support with your condition. Get advice on your medicines, symptoms or travelling with a lung condition, or just call us to say hello.
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