Che cos'è l'asma grave e come fai a sapere se ce l'hai?

What is classed as severe asthma?

Less than 10% of people con asma vengono diagnosticati come affetti da asma grave. Più imprevedibile e difficile da gestire rispetto all'asma lieve e moderata, l'asma grave è la forma più debilitante di questa condizione.

Quelli con mild, moderate, or severe asthma possono condividere gli stessi sintomi comuni dell'asma come mancanza di respiro, respiro sibilante e tosse, ma ci sono alcune differenze chiave con l'asma grave:

• Symptoms are much worse and can last much longer.

• Symptoms often occur daily and have a huge effect on people's lives.

• Symptoms don't always respond well to standard asthma treatments and medications.

"Gli individui con asma grave sperimenteranno sintomi continui quotidianamente, nonostante assumano i loro farmaci per l'asma," afferma Margaret Kelman, infermiera specialista in allergie presso Allergy UK. "They will experience frequent asthma attacks and often be admitted to hospital for their asthma."

Anche se questo può sembrare spaventoso, ci sono trattamenti specifici per l'asma e cambiamenti nello stile di vita che possono fare una differenza significativa e positiva nella vita delle persone. Ottenere una diagnosi di asma grave è un primo passo importante per creare un piano d'azione per l'asma che può aiutarti a ottenere un migliore controllo della tua condizione.

How is severe asthma treated and managed?

Nonostante i rischi, there is a history of people not following consigli specialistici per il trattamento dell'asma grave in modo adeguato. Cercare di controllare l'asma grave può essere scoraggiante e può richiedere tempo per trovare la giusta combinazione di trattamenti per te.

But remember, with the right treatment plan in place, it's possible to manage asthma and improve your quality of life significantly.

• Take care of yourself and control of your asthma by:

  • Taking your medication as prescribed. This will include learning the correct inhaler technique and may also include other medications as recommended.

  • Attending your hospital appointments if you're referred.

In the last few years, several new treatments have become available for people with severe asthma. These include medicines given by injection, antibody therapy, or bronchial thermoplasty. However, they are usually only available through specialist clinics.

Following your asthma action plan

Questo è un tailored treatment plan concordato con il tuo team sanitario che include sia farmaci per l'asma che metodi di gestione non medicinali.

Attending regular asthma reviews

This will allow your healthcare team to reassess your severity and adjust your asthma action plan if needed - for example, identifying new treatment options and increasing asthma medications to a higher dose if required.

Avoiding your asthma triggers where possible

Everyone's triggers are different, but this might include staying inside when the pollen count is high, or having your house assessed for house mites and mould volume.

Making sensible lifestyle adjustments

Being fit and healthy can dramatically improve your asthma. You should refrain from smoking, eat healthily, exercise regularly, and if you're overweight or obese aim to reach a healthy weight.

Penny's story

Penny's experience is an inspiring example of the benefits of exercise and diet. However, it's important to note that everyone is different and not every person with severe asthma will see the same results. You should always follow the advice of your healthcare professional.

How I used fitness to reduce my symptoms after a collapsed lung

At the age of 26, fitness and nutrition expert Penny Weston suffered a collapsed lung due to suffering from severe and chronic asthma from a young age.

"It was incredibly scary to be totally out of breath whilst lying down, and a huge wake-up call for me. I was terrified!" she says. "I had to rest on the sofa and not move for days."

Dopo questa terrificante esperienza, Penny si è concentrata sul miglioramento della sua salute attraverso l'esercizio fisico, la dieta e la nutrizione. Ora è la direttrice di un premiato Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat e fondatore di MADE wellness centre.

"I started getting into fitness to try to help my lungs and asthma. Initially, I went to circuit training classes with a friend. The stop-start nature of circuits, and later HIIT training, helped to strengthen my lungs.

"As time went on, I became fitter and more confident. I also realised that I really liked what fitness and healthy food had done to my body and my life, and I saw an opportunity to help other people enrich their lives."

Penny now no longer needs to take the steroid tablets that she was told she'd be on forever. "I went to the doctor after about three or four years of training and while they said, "you can't cure asthma", they confirmed I had gone from a 9/10 severity to a 1/10. I had reduced my asthma to the least severe it could be.

"Now day-to-day, asthma doesn't affect me, but I am prone to chest infections, so I have a reliever inhaler. If I get a cold or a cough, my chest can get quite tight, and I have to take antibiotics, so that's when the asthma flares up.

"I used to avoid being active, but it's increasing my fitness that contributed to helping my asthma."

How to exercise with severe asthma

"If you're worried that doing any physical exercise will set off your asthma, it's a good idea to speak with your GP or nurse and agree a plan of action," says Kelman. "When exercising, make sure your reliever medication is easily accessible, follow your personal asthma action plan to identify when your asthma is not well managed, and get to know your triggers so that you can avoid them where possible."