Understanding Asthma

Updated 29th November 2017

What is it?

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the airways – the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs.  On response to a trigger, the muscles around the walls of the airways tighten and become narrower.  The lining of the airways also produce a sticky mucus.  As the airways narrow, it becomes difficult for air to move in and out.

As muscle tone is required for inhalation and muscle relaxation is required for exhalation, a common and noticeable issue with asthma is a difficulty in exhaling.

What causes asthma?

Factors include:

• Family history

• Lifestyle – e.g. hygiene and diet and environment

• Smoking

• Exposure to irritants in the workplace such as dust and chemicals

• Environmental pollution can make asthma symptoms worse

• Adult-onset asthma may develop after a viral infection

What are the triggers?

A number of factors can trigger an Asthma attack; most of these airborne irritants or particulate but other environmental, physical or emotional factors can cause or exacerbate the symptoms.

Knowing these factors can help you prevent a casualty from experiencing an attack or help relieve the symptoms by being aware of their environment or changing their behaviours.

• Aerosols

• Air pollutants - dust, soot, smoke and fumes

• Animal hair

• Colds & viral infections

• Emotions - Stress, depression, anxiety or even a fit of laughter can trigger asthma symptoms.

• Exercise

• Food - including cow’s milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, yeast products, nuts, and some food colourings and preservatives

• Hormones - increased incidence around puberty, menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause

• House-dust mites

• Medicines - Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory tablets such as ibuprofen and voltarol

• Pollen, Moulds and fungi

• Weather

What is the treatment?

Asthma is commonly treated with an inhaled medication; a delivery route that is very fast-acting.   It can also be controlled by parental (digested) medication.

A casualty suffering from an asthma attack needs their medication as quickly as possible – an inherent problem with a breathing condition that relies on an inhaled medication for treatment is that the worse the condition becomes, the harder it can be for the casualty to medicate.

Relievers

Everyone with asthma should have a bronchodilating reliever inhaler.  Reliever inhalers are usually blue and contain the beta-2 agonist salubutamol (Ventolin® ) or Terbutaline, another bronchodilator which goes by the trade name Bricanyl®.  Terbutaline is often delivered in a blue Turbohaler

Relievers are medicines that are taken immediately to relieve asthma symptoms.   They quickly relax the muscles surrounding the narrowed airways allowing the airways to open wider, making it easier to breathe again.

A casualty should take a dose of a reliever inhaler as soon as they feel symptoms of an Asthma attack.   A casualty who needs to use their reliever inhaler three or more times a week may not be well controlled and should have their medication reviewed.

Preventer inhalers

Preventers control the swelling and inflammation in the airways, reducing their sensitivity and the risk of severe attacks.   The protective effect builds up over a period of time so they need to be taken every day (usually morning and evening) even when they are feeling well.

Preventers do not give immediate or quick relief when the casualty is breathless but instead, they reduce long-term inflammation.  Preventive inhalers usually contain a low dose of corticosteroid medicine.

Preventers are usually brown, red or orange inhalers.

Preventive inhalers will not relieve the symptoms of an Asthma attack and should never be offered to a casualty where a reliever inhaler is needed.

Spacers

Spacers are large plastic or metal chambers that have an aperture at one end for the reliever inhaler to fit. The spacer enables the medication to be aerated, making it easier to inhale.

Spacers are very important because:

• they make aerosol inhalers easier to use and more effective

• they get more medicine into the lungs than when using the inhaler on its own

• they are convenient and compact and work at least as well as nebulisers at treating most asthma attacks in children and adults

In an emergency

The casualty is having difficulty breathing – this is incredibly distressing and, remembering that emotions can trigger an Asthma attack it can become psychosomatic; the more anxious the casualty becomes, the worse their symptoms become, the harder it is to breathe, the more anxious they become...

• Remember that asthma attacks are often caused by triggers so attempt to remove the casualty from the trigger.

• Sit the casualty down, on a chair or on a floor against a wall. Do not attempt to lie them down.

• Loosen anything around the casualty's neck; the first couple of shirt buttons or an inch or two of their zip.

• Look into the casualty's eyes and hold their attention.

  • Ask them; “Do you have Asthma?” , “Do you have your medication?”

  • Ask “Yes” or “No” questions which they are able to respond to without talking.

What to do if there is no inhaler?

It is tempting to ask if anyone else has an inhaler that the casualty can use.   We have to take a legal and responsible stance and say that it is not appropriate to give the casualty anyone else's inhaler, for a number of reasons:

The Law:

Inhaled medications are prescription medicines.  It is illegal to administer such medicines without the prescription of a doctor.   Read this article on the control of medicines.

You may be in a position or responsibility of handling the casualty's medication.   Read this article for further guidance on the handling of medicines.

Type of Inhaler:

There are several types of inhalers, each with their own mechanism of use.  The type of inhaler represents part of the prescription and will have been prescribed to the casualty for a reason.  

Drug type and dose:

While all blue inhalers tend to be for relieving asthma symptoms, they do not all contain the same drug, nor the same dosage.  Don't assume all inhalers are the same.

If there is no inhaler present continue to rest and calm the casualty - do not underestimate the power of emotional support.   Give positive statements such as "Stay calm" as opposed to "Don't panic".  The brain hears the verb first and has to process the fact that the instruction is a negative.   What does someone climbing a ladder do immediately after you shout "Don't look down!" ?

If there is no sign of improvement after 5 minutes, the casualty's breathing becomes undetectable or they lose consciousness, call 999 immediately.

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