Things to look out for

Asthma is often triggered by dust, animal fur, mold, cigarette smoke and strong fumes. It is important to keep living areas clean and as dust free as possible. It is important to be aware of the air quality inside your house. This can be affected by smoke from open fires and cigarettes, but is also affected by mould, dust, damp, pests (e.g. dust mites) and household sprays and solvents. It is recommended if you or someone in your household has asthma should try to keep your house as clean and dry as possible. Older people may benefit by seeking help with house-work such as dusting, avoiding smoke and not keep pets that produce a lot of dander (small scales of skin, fur or feathers that can cause an allergic reaction).

Things to look out for:

• Food
• Excercise
• lnfections
• Irritants
• Medications

For many an asthma attack can be a very frightening experience. To make the possibility of having an asthma attack less daunting, it is important for you to know what to do to relieve an asthma attack. You may feel more relaxed if people that you spent a lot of time with also know what to do if you have an asthma attack so that they can lend a hand.

If you have an asthma attack:

• Take your reliever or rescue inhaler immediately; your preventer inhaler will not make any difference to the asthma attack so it is important to know which inhaler is which and to use the correct one
• If the reliever has no effect after five to ten minutes, call your doctor or an ambulance
• Continue to take reliever medication every few minutes until help arrives