Breathe easier with our top ten facts about asthma as we expose myths about exercise, inhalers and potential cures

ASTHMATIC? Then your ears would have pricked up at the recent news that vitamin D might help reduce your symptoms.

That certainly doesn’t mean it’s time for you to bin your inhalers, although it might be time for an asthma refresher. Here are my top ten facts and myths about the condition.

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1. Asthma is common – fact. Figures vary, but it affects up to about 18 per cent of the population, including around one in eleven children. It’s especially likely in those who also suffer hay fever or eczema or have asthma in the family.
2. It’s harmless – myth. Asthma can kill. In 2015, there were 1,302 asthma deaths in England and Wales and attacks hospitalise someone around every eight minutes. True, in most it’s less dramatic, but asthma symptoms do commonly affect work and home life, and sporting activity.
   

   

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3. Asthmatics can be bad at taking their puffers – true. Bad in terms of remembering to take them. But their inhaler “technique” can be lousy, too — so bad, in fact, that they might as well be squirting it under their arms for all the good it will do.
   Check out the leaflet to remind you how to use it or ask your practice nurse to show you. And if you find it tricky, ask for a spacer, a plastic bubble which attaches to your inhaler and makes it easier to use.
4.  People with asthma should avoid exercise – myth. Exercise can trigger asthma. But that can be prevented by making sure asthma sufferers are on the right treatment and use it regularly. Exercise is good for them, as it is for everyone.
   

   

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5. It may just cause a cough – fact. Think asthma and you’ll probably think “wheeze”. But in some people it causes a cough instead of, or as well as, wheeziness. This may be triggered by exercise or laughing, and is often worse at night.
6. I don’t want to take inhalers regularly or I’ll end up relying on them” – myth. Go to the bottom of the asthma class. Your inhalers aren’t addictive and they won’t lose their effect with regular or prolonged use. And no, the steroid inhalers don’t cause serious side effects.
7. There’s no cure – fact. It’s true that there’s no magic bullet for asthma. But proper treatment should banish the symptoms so you can lead a wheeze and cough-free life.
   

   

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8. “I need a nebuliser” – myth. Nebulisers — gizmos used in hospital to deliver a fine spray of treatment through a mask — can be very effective. But there’s rarely a need to buy one as standard inhalers used properly should sort you out. Use a spacer if you’re having difficulty with your puffer. These are as effective as nebulisers, and a lot safer. Over-relying on nebulisers can be dangerous.
9. Not everything that wheezes in childhood is asthma – fact. That’s because it’s common for young children to wheeze when they get a cough or cold.  This is called “episodic viral wheeze”. Although asthma-type inhalers can help, many grow out of it by around the age of five — only a minority go on to have asthma.
10. You can’t have asthma if your chest X-ray is OK – myth. Asthma doesn’t show on an X-ray. In fact, the only reason you might have an X-ray during an attack at hospital is to rule out other problems like a chest infection or a collapsed lung.

Hopefully, that’s straightened you out a bit.  Mind you, if you are spraying your inhalers under your arms, I’m a bit worried where you’re spraying your anti-perspirant.

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Is Dad's shuffle Parkinson's sign?

Q - I AM worried about my father. A year ago, he was treated for Parkinson’s disease. 

But now the doctors aren’t sure if that’s what he has. He shuffles when he walks, forgets things and tends to fall. Any ideas?
Alan, by email
A - Most people associate Parkinson’s disease with a tremor.
It can cause this, but it’s usually other symptoms that cause the most trouble – tiredness, stiffness, unsteadiness and a shuffling walk, for example. So some of your dad’s symptoms do sound like Parkinson’s.
The problem is, there’s no specific test to prove this. And many other diseases – which typically develop very gradually – can cause similar symptoms. So the true diagnosis may only become apparent over time.
This can be very frustrating. It’s important you raise your concerns at the next appointment with his consultant. In the meantime, if you’re worried about your dad’s risk of falls, you could contact the local social services department to see what help they can offer.

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Q - I’VE been put on amlodipine 10mg for blood pressure. These have made my feet swell – do I have to put up with this?
Andrew, by email
A - No. Some people do, though, once they understand it’s just a side effect of the drug which is completely harmless. So if it doesn’t bother you, it’s OK to carry on as you are.
If it is a nuisance, though, you have a couple of options. One is to lower your dose of amlodipine – you are on the higher dose and this could possibly be reduced to 5mg per day.
The alternative is to be changed to a completely different treatment.
Either way, you’ll need your blood pressure checked in a month or two to make sure the change hasn’t upset your readings.

6

Q - I’M in my eighties and I have a strange skin problem. It started weeks ago as slightly itchy red patches all over.
Anti-fungal cream didn’t help. Now I’m getting blistered areas. What should I do?
Amy, Poole
A - You should ask your GP to take another look. It sounds as though your skin trouble has changed a lot since he last saw it, so he may well want a re-think.
There are a few unusual skin conditions in the elderly that can cause blistering. Untreated, some of these can get a lot worse and even make you quite poorly – so contact your GP soon.

— Dr Hopcroft cannot be held liable for advice given here as answers to queries can only be given in general terms. If you are seriously worried about your health, please book an appointment with your GP.

Got a question for Dr Keith? Email [email protected] or write to him at The Sun, 1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF.