6. Is there a cure for asthma?

7. How does an inhaler work?

8. Can asthma be treated using tablets?

9. What does a peak flow meter do?

10. Glossary of Terms

Asthma is an inflammation of the airways that carry air in and out of your lungs.

During an asthma attack your airways narrow and the muscles around your airways tighten, making it difficult to breath. The lining of your airways becomes inflamed and starts to swell, often producing a sticky mucus or phlegm. Other symptoms include coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Asthma affects more than three million people in the UK, including one in seven school children and one in 25 adults. In the US nearly 1in 13 children are affected. Some people grow out of their childhood asthma, while others develop 'late-onset' asthma in adulthood.

The causes of asthma are not yet fully understood, however, the following factors are thought to be significant:

• Hereditary
• Changes in lifestyle, e.g. housing or diet
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk to the unborn child
• Viral infections
• Irritants in the workplace
• Environmental pollution can aggravate asthma symptoms

An asthma attack is triggered by coming into contact with something that irritates your airways. These triggers vary from person to person. Common asthma triggers include:

• Exercise
• Viral cold or flu infections
• Allergies
• Environmental pollution
• Cold air
• Tobacco smoke

By keeping a record of the times and situations when your asthma is particularly bad, you can identify your personal asthma triggers.
Please note: once your asthma has been effectively controlled you can continue to take regular exercise.

Whilst there is currently no cure for asthma, there are some highly effective treatments that can help to control your symptoms. The two main types of asthma treatments are relievers and preventers.

Reliever Inhalers
Relievers are designed to relieve asthma symptoms by relaxing the muscles surrounding the narrowed airways. Reliever inhalers, which are usually blue, take effect within 5-10 minutes.

Preventer Inhalers
Preventers are designed to reduce the swelling and inflammation of the airways. They also help to reduce sensitivity to asthma triggers. A preventer will be necessary if you need to use your reliever inhaler more than once a day or more than 3-4 times a week.

The protective benefits of preventers build up over time so it is important to continue with the treatment even when you have no symptoms. Regular use of a preventer helps minimize the risk of long-term damage to your airways. Preventer inhalers are usually brown, red or orange.

Inhalers help deliver your reliever or inhaler treatment straight to your airways. Inhalers are available in a spray (aerosol) or dry powder form. If you use an aerosol inhaler, using a spacer device with your inhaler can help direct the spray exactly where it is needed.

There are two types of tablets that can be used to treat asthma: Steroid tablets and Preventer tablets

Steroid tablets
When your asthma is first diagnosed, or if you have a particularly bad asthma attack, your doctor may give you a short course of preventer treatment in tablet form (steroids) to provide rapid relief.

Preventer tablets
If your preventer and reliever inhalers have been unsuccessful in controlling your symptoms, you may be prescribed daily preventer tablets. These tablets are not steroids and are designed to complement your inhaled preventer.

Long-acting reliever
Your doctor may also prescribe a long-acting reliever. Unlike short-acting reliever inhalers the effects of a long-acting reliever can last for up to 12 hours. Long- acting relievers are usually taken twice a day and are taken together with a preventer.

Complementary therapies
Preventer and reliever treatments are a very safe and effective way to treat your asthma. Complementary therapies should be taken alongside these traditional treatments, rather than as an 'alternative'.

A peak flow meter measures how hard you can blow air out of your lungs. This measurement is a good indication of how effectively your asthma is being controlled. Your doctor or practice nurse may prescribe a peak flow meter for you. Alternatively, you can buy the PiKo-1, the world's smallest and most sophisticated electronic peak flow meter, from the online shop on this site. Unlike traditional mechanical peak flow meters which only measure peak flow, the PiKo-1 also measures FEV1. FEV1 is less variable than peak flow and less effort dependent; it is also a more reliable indicator of an impending asthma attack.

Peak Flow
The fastest rate of air (airflow) that you can blow out of your lungs. Its recorded in liters per minute (l/min).

FEV1
The forced expiratory volume (FEV) in 1 second is how much someone can breathe out in one second, trying as hard as possible.

FEV6
The forced expiratory volume (FEV) in 6 seconds is how much someone can breathe out in six seconds, trying as hard as possible.

Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)
The maximum volume of air that can be forcibly expired from the lungs.