If you have already been diagnosed as asthmatic but have noticed your symptoms are no longer responding as well to the medication your GP has prescribed, then you may have severe asthma. It’s not normal to have ongoing asthma symptoms when you have been regularly and correctly using your preventer inhaler and so it’s important that you book an asthma review with your doctor. As well as checking your inhaler technique, the GP will be able to assess whether you have severe asthma.

What Is Severe Asthma?

People with severe asthma have trouble with frequent asthma symptoms or flare-ups even when taking the highest level of recommended treatment, or needing the highest level of recommended treatment continuously to control their asthma. And the truth is it’s becoming more and more common. In fact, the latest research suggests that as many as 1 in 10 people with asthma may have severe asthma.

What Are The Symptoms?

The symptoms associated with severe asthma include:

• breathlessness
• wheezing
• tightness in the chest
• continuing cough.

However, it’s the frequency of attacks that’s the main distinguishing feature. You see, those with well controlled asthma should only experience asthma symptoms occasionally – typically less than twice a week. For those with severe asthma the symptoms are persistent and ongoing. The bottom line is that it’s not normal to have ongoing frequent asthma symptoms, so don’t accept them as being part and parcel of the condition. Make sure that you get it checked out by your GP.

Problems Associated With Severe Asthma

People with severe asthma often experience the following:

• increased number of asthma flare-ups
• extra time off work or school
• more visits required to the GP
• increased possibility of asthma-related hospitalisations
• more stress and anxiety due to their asthma.

It’s very important, therefore, not to ignore the symptoms and to seek help as early as possible.

Treatments For Severe Asthma

The first step is to have the diagnosis confirmed by a doctor. This may take time and is likely to involve a series of tests to rule out other conditions.

Once a severe asthma diagnosis is confirmed, your doctor will look at appropriate treatment options. People with severe asthma will use many of the same medicines used by those with more mild to moderate asthma including preventers and relievers. However, because severe asthma doesn’t respond as well to these medications, often they are combined with other treatment options. These add-on medications may include short courses of oral corticosteroid tablets which help to get asthma under control during a flare-up.

Living With Severe Asthma

Looking after yourself is a priority and so it’s important to take the following steps to minimise the risk of a flare-up:

• Take your medication regularly as directed.
• Use your inhaler correctly.
• Have an updated asthma plan in place.
• Visit your doctor for a regular asthma review and ask about a referral to a specialist.
• Carry a reliever puffer at all times.
• Keep healthy – eat well and undertake regular exercise.

Don’t suffer in silence. If you think you have severe asthma then get it checked out with your GP and remember, it’s not normal to have ongoing asthma symptoms.