Managing respiratory conditions
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West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (WL CCG) is undertaking a highly successful project with GP practices to provide quality reviews for patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Building on this work, we've created this page to provide additional resources to patients with asthma and COPD so you can get the most out of your inhaled medication.
On this page you can find out more about:
- Inhalers for asthma and COPD
- Asthma and COPD: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- COPD Prednisolone and Antibiotic Rescue Packs
- How to prevent an asthma attack
- Spotting signs of asthma in your child
You can also visit the NHS Asthma and COPD web pages, which include more information on symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
Inhalers for asthma and COPD
Inhalers are usually prescribed for patients with asthma and COPD as they are effective at delivering medication directly to the lungs. Having the correct inhaler technique is important to ensure you get the maximum benefits from the medication prescribed for you.
Asthma UK has produced a series of videos to demonstrate the correct techniques for a number of inhaler types. If you are unsure as to exactly which type of inhaler you are using, you can search for it here.
Remeber, you can also speak to your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist if you have any further questions.
Below are links to a selection of Asthma UK inhaler technique videos. See all 21 Asthma UK inhaler technique videos.
Asthma and COPD: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties. It affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood, although it can also develop for the first time in adults. Your airways carry air in and out of your lungs. If you have asthma, they are very sensitive. Certain things trigger the muscles around your airways to tighten, making your airways narrower. The airway lining also becomes inflamed causing a build-up of sputum. This makes your airways even narrower. With narrow airways, it’s harder to get air in and out of your lungs. The main symptoms of asthma are: The symptoms can sometimes get temporarily worse. This is known as an asthma attack. Asthma is usually treated by using an inhaler, a small device that lets you breathe in medicines. The main types are: Some people also need to take tablets. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is a group of lung conditions including bronchitis and emphysema. They make it difficult to empty air out of the lungs because your airways have been narrowed. Two of these lung conditions are persistent bronchitis and emphysema, which can also occur together. These processes narrow the airways. This makes it harder to move air in and out as you breathe, and your lungs are less able to take in oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide. You might get these symptoms all the time, or they might appear or get worse when you have an infection or breathe in smoke or fumes. With COPD, your airways have become narrowed permanently – inhaled medication can help to open them up to some extent. With asthma, the narrowing of your airways comes and goes, often when you’re exposed to a trigger – something that irritates your airways – such as tobacco smoke, dust or pollen. Inhaled medication can open your airways fully, prevent symptoms and relieve symptoms by relaxing your airways. So, if your breathlessness and other symptoms are much better on some days than others, or if you often wake up in the night feeling wheezy, it’s more likely you have asthma. Inhalers are usually prescribed for patients with asthma and COPD as they are effective at delivering medication directly to the lungs. Having the correct inhaler technique is important to ensure you get the maximum benefits from the medication prescribed for you. You can also speak to your GP, practice nurse or pharmacist if you have any further questions. A series of videos and leaflets have been produced to demonstrate the correct inhaler techniques for the different devices available. Please click on the relevant link(s) below for the inhaler device(s) you have been prescribed.
What is asthma?
What happens in asthma?
What are the symptoms of asthma?
How can asthma be treated?
What is COPD?
What are the symptoms of COPD?
What’s the difference between COPD and asthma?
Where can I get expert advice?
COPD Prednisolone and Antibiotic Rescue Packs
This is medication for when your COPD flares up, or gets worse for a period of time. It is commonly made up of prednisolone tablets, which are steroids, and an antibiotic. They are not part of your regular treatment. You have these medicines so that you can start treatment for a ‘flare up’ if you cannot get immediate access to your GP or nurse. They are not instead of a medical consultation.
- See the Rescue Pack patient information leaflet produced by the Leicestershire and Rutland Respiratory Prescribing Group.