Managing your Asthma

Managing Your Asthma

We understand that managing asthma can be difficult

We know that living with asthma is difficult, and your day-to-day life may be disrupted by triggers, symptoms, and asthma attacks1,2. It is important that you understand your asthma, how it impacts you, and why daily treatment is essential1,2.

The patient voice:

3 patients and patient representatives have agreed to lend us their voice for this campaign and tell us the stories of their own asthma journey, the challenges with treatment adherence and access to diagnostic and treatment:

  1. Tonya Winders – CEO and President of the Allergy a& Asthma Network & GAAPP (USA)
  2. Dunja Stojanovic – Patient & representative of Alergija i ja (Serbia)
  3. Liliya Belenko Gentet – Caregiver & representative of FFAAIR (France)

Managing your Asthma (Part 1)

Managing your Asthma (Part 2)

Why is it important to use daily inhalers even if you feel well?

There are many different treatment options for people with asthma. Your doctor will decide which treatment option is best for you1. Inhalers are usually the main treatment.

  • Controller medication –to treat the inflammation, taken daily or as prescribed by your doctor1,2
  • Reliever medication – taken occasionally, when symptoms arise1,2

Understanding how different types of medications work will help you to manage your asthma in collaboration with your doctor and live an active and full life1.

Globally, many patients have difficulties accessing asthma care, and those who do, often find it challenging to take asthma medication every day2. A recent interview with two patient representatives highlighted this may be because patients fear side effects, or are confused about how to use their inhaler, or find it difficult to establish a routine for taking their medication as prescribed.

Some patients believe they don’t need to use their inhaler when they don’t have symptoms3.

‘Patients often are unaware of the need and/or benefits for ongoing inhaled therapy, particularly when they’re not experiencing symptoms’ – Tonya Winders, CEO & President of Allergy & Asthma Network and President of GAAPP.

Using your controller medication is key to keeping your asthma under control. Remember it is important to use your inhaler, even if you feel well, to prevent any future symptoms and asthma attacks1,2.

‘None of us really like to take medicine when we think we’re feeling fine, but the truth is, there is underlying inflammation even when symptoms may not be evident.’ – Tonya Winders.

If you only use your reliever inhaler, you are not addressing the cause of asthma. There will be inflammation and swelling in your airways, making treatment more difficult4. Taking your controller inhaler as instructed by your doctor, allows the effect of the medication to build up over time, treating the inflammation and preventing symptoms1,4.

The key to establishing asthma control

Asthma is a long-term condition that requires long-term treatment1,2. Through effective communication and collaboration with your doctor, you can establish an asthma management routine for yourself that is easy for you to adhere to1.

‘We have to be more effective at communicating the need for controller inhaled therapies and adherence to them. We also have to collaborate and help to understand…what is most important to each individual patient’ – Tonya Winders.

Taking medication as prescribed by your doctor is the best way to ensure you effectively get ahead of asthma1.

References:

  1. GINA 2022. Available from: https://ginasthma.org/gina-reports/. Accessed June 2022
  2. WHO https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/asthma. Accessed June 2022
  3. Bidad N, et al. Eur Respir J 2018; 51: 1701346
  4. Bousquet J, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2000;161:1720–45#

This is a disease awareness campaign by GAAPP, sponsored by GSK​