World Asthma Day: Tuesday 6 May

WAD is a collaborative project of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute which is made up of healthcare professionals from Spain, Argentina, USA, Mexico, Chile, Italy, Uruguay, Cuba and Peru.

South Africa has the world's fourth highest asthma death rate amongst the age group five to 35 according to the National Asthma Education Programme (NAEP) of South Africa. This statistic, as frightening as it may sound, is one that can be dealt with. While asthma cannot be cured it can be treated and controlled if one is aware of the many preventative measures that need to be taken as well as what to do in the event of an attack.

The risk factors are many and include allergies (and relevant allergens), a family history of asthma, frequent respiratory infections, low birth weight and the most obvious - and easy to prevent - smoking or exposure to smoke during pregnancy and after. During an asthma attack the muscle tissues of the air passage of the asthmatic become inflamed and lined with excessive amounts of mucus which cause the passages to become narrower and air movement much more restricted than normal. An attack can happen without warning and can become life-threatening within minutes.

To lower the risk of an asthma attack the following measures should be taken:

Eliminate all possible allergens from the environment and diet;
Keep the home and work area as dust and pollutant-free as possible;
Stay away from pets as much as possible and keep them out of the bedroom to prevent an attack coming on while sleeping;
Do not use humifidiers in the home or workplace;
Avoid exposure to smoke;
Avoid exercising in areas of high pollution such as jogging on busy roads etc, and
Speak to your doctor about starting an exercise programme that would strengthen lung functionality such as swimming.
If you suspect that you or your child may have asthma or have questions about asthma visit your nearest Clicks Pharmacy and speak to the Pharmacist or Nursing Practitioner for practical advice about asthma. They are trained and will be able to offer advice and explanations on

·The nature of asthma;

·The medication prescribed to you and its potential side effects;

·A written/printed asthma management plan which includes asthma prevention;

·Pharmacy/clinic assistance to manage your/your child's asthma;

·Pointers for care-givers/teachers;

·Reassurance of the safety of continuous regular medication therapy;

·How to get optimal use of medication;

·The importance of compliance to medication;

·The importance of regular follow-up visits to the doctor;

·How to recognise worsening asthma symptoms;

·How to recognise potential side-effects of medication;

·How to recognise early warning signs of an attack;

·Correct use of inhalers and the opportunity to practice under supervision;

·Dangers of smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke;

·How to avoid preservatives that can trigger an attack, and

·Lifestyle changes, for example diet and exercise, and how to determine and avoid common triggers.

For more information, visit www.clicks.co.za