Asthma patients using inhalers may see a change in their prescription (Image: GETTY)
Asthma sufferers are being warned that their treatment plan may be changing as new recommendations urge a change in inhaler use.
The soaring pollen levels could spell trouble for countless Brits prone to hayfever but also the five and a half million people with asthma, particularly those using inhalers as part of their treatment.
Pollen won’t affect all asthma patients but the impending pollen bomb may trigger worsening symptoms in some including coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath that will see them reaching for their inhalers more often.
However, those using inhalers are being alerted about new guidance and rules that have been drawn up by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network and the British Thoracic Society, particularly regarding over-dependence.
The new guidance refers to those using reliever inhalers such as salbutamol (Ventolin) as it encourages people to switch to combination inhalers that contain both relievers and preventers.
Asthma patients might be reaching for their inhalers more amid the pollen bomb (Image: GETTY)
The guidance is set to be published by the end of the year, and Brits can read the draft proposals here, which echo recommendations made by Global Initiative for Asthma two years ago after raising concerns that people overuse relievers such as salbutamol which can cause side effects.
Salbutamol, the go-to for quick asthma symptom relief by dilating the airways, offers a brief respite of less than four hours and fails to address the root inflammation causing asthma.
In contrast, preventers, typically inhaled steroids, are prescribed alongside relievers to tackle the inflammation and sensitivity at the heart of asthma symptoms, with patients urged to persist with their preventer inhalers even when symptom-free.
Yet, a startling Swedish study tracking nearly 400,000 asthma sufferers revealed that one-third excessively relied on their reliever, while a quarter hadn’t picked up a single preventer inhaler prescription over the same timeframe.
Using a reliever inhaler often doesn’t necessarily mean a person is over-dependent on it (Image: GETTY)
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Dr Mark Porter, writing in The Times, clarified that heavy reliance on a reliever inhaler isn’t necessarily indicative of misuse or dependency, but could point to severe asthma.
However, he cautioned: “In most cases it indicates that you are not on the right/enough medication – either because you are not taking it as prescribed or you haven’t been prescribed it.”
For those with mild or moderate asthma, Dr Porter’s advice is clear: carry your inhalers at all times but frequent use shouldn’t be the norm.
He highlighted that new guidelines will introduce combination inhalers that not only offer immediate relief but also target the underlying issue.
For those concerned about over-reliance on their inhalers, Dr Porter suggests: “taking regular doses of preventer as prescribed” and to consult with a GP or asthma nurse if the need for a reliever persists.
He also emphasised the importance of correct inhaler use, pointing out that “poor technique” is a frequent culprit in suboptimal asthma control.
Additionally, Dr Porter offers advice for individuals grappling with both asthma and hay fever, recommending daily antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays, and eye drops to alleviate hay fever symptoms, which may also aid in managing asthma.
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