Health

National Asthma Week 1 – 7 September

The Asthma Foundation is highlighting the seriousness of asthma this National Asthma Week.

• 1 in 9 people have asthma, that’s more that 2.5 million people.
• People with asthma have sensitive airways in their lungs which react to triggers which causes the airway muscles to squeeze tight, the airways to swell and become narrow, and mucus to build up making it hard to breathe. This is called a ‘flare up’. An asthma flare up can occur at any time without warning and can be life-threatening.
• Symptoms vary over time and person to person, but they are most commonly:
• Breathlessness
• Wheezing
• Tight chest
• Cough (tends to be a dry, persistent cough)

Taking your medication, having an asthma management plan, knowing first aid and regular check-ups with your GP are the most important steps you can take to improve your asthma control.

Please check attached Asthma First Aid Poster.

Jenny Hill

College Nurse