How to talk to your doctor

Sometimes when you are finding your asthma difficult to control its a good idea to make an appointment to visit your asthma nurse or your GP to get some expert advice on getting your asthma under control again. Sometimes just having someone to listen and give you reassurance can help. However, lots of people dont like visiting their GP, and we understand why. Sometimes you have to wait for a long time in the waiting room, with only old copies of Womans Own and Readers Digest to keep you company. But if your asthma symptoms are coming back and the steps you have taken according to your Personal Asthma Action Plan dont seem to be working, then it is a good idea to get yourself off to the surgery. We also know that some people find it difficult talking to their doctor or nurse about their asthma. One of the reasons we hear about is that some people dont want to waste the doctors time, but when it comes to your health and your asthma, then you are not being a time waster. In fact, youll be saving them time in the long run. All you are doing is getting the advice you are entitled to. At other times you may feel that you dont understand your nurse or doctor because of the language they use, or the way they describe things during your appointment. Maybe you feel that you come out of the surgery even more confused than when you went in. You are not alone in feeling like this. Other people tell us that they can feel intimidated by going to the doctor and that they dont feel that they can be open when they are sitting face to face in the consulting room. Does that sound like your experience? If so, take a quick look at our tips and suggestions below to get the most out of your time with your doctor or asthma nurse. Whatever your experience, if youd rather talk to one of our asthma nurse specialists before visiting your doctor, you can call the Adviceline on 0800 121 62 44. Be prepared. If you find it difficult to talk to your doctor, its a great idea to jot down what you want to say before you go for your appointment. You could list the symptoms you have been having, or if you have noticed that your peak flow is getting worse you could take along your peak flow diary to show them during your appointment. You might also want to list all of the things you have done yourself to try to get your asthma under control again. This will let the doctor know more about your situation and should help him/her to get a good picture of what is happening to you.

Ask the doctor or nurse to check your Personal Asthma Action Plan (or ask for one if you dont have one). Alternatively, you can order a blank one here to take with you. Your doctor or nurse can then fill out your new Personal Asthma Action Plan with you at the appointment. You could also ask if you can have your inhaler technique checked. Anyone can slip into bad habits with their inhaler technique, or it may be that you havent been shown properly before. You need good inhaler technique to get the best out of your inhalers. If you ask to have it checked then youll know for certain that you are looking after yourself properly for the future. This is one of the easiest ways to get your asthma under control. Also, if you dont want to ask your doctor to check your technique, you could always ask your pharmacist to check it for you the next time you are there to pick up a prescription. Alternatively, you can have a look at our inhaler technique videos here If you are worried about the possibility of having an asthma attack then ask them what advice they can give you. (You might also want to carry an Asthma Attack Card in your wallet/bag it gives some people a better sense of security knowing that if they need a reminder about what steps to take, it is always with them.) You can order an Asthma Attack Card here. Are you worried about side effects? If so, you can ask your doctor about this. We often hear from people who are not taking their asthma medicines because of worries about side effects, but the side effects of asthma medicines are often exaggerated. Your doctor or asthma nurse can put the record straight. You might also want to take a look at our information on side effects here. You may be able to swap your medicine for a different one if you dont get on well with it. Again, our asthma nurse specialists can talk over any concerns with you. Just call our Adviceline on 0800 121 62 44. Ask when your next asthma review is, or if you have never had an annual asthma review, then ask your doctors receptionist to organise one for you with an asthma nurse or someone who has a special interest in asthma at your surgery. Before you leave the appointment you can double check things with the doctor: Check that you have understood what the doctor has asked you to do. This could be taking new medicines, or taking your inhalers using a different technique. Its ok to ask them to explain something again to make sure you have understood it. Most doctors or nurses will be only too pleased to know that you want to understand everything!

Ask why you need to do this/take this? If you dont understand why you have to do something, then ask. Like most things in life, if we dont understand why we are supposed to do something, then we are less likely to do it. Ask how long it takes for any new medicines to start working. Then you will know what to expect and when you should start to feel better. This is about knowing what good asthma control means for you. For most people, good asthma control simply means that asthma symptoms (like wheeze or waking up at night because of their asthma) go away. Dont be afraid to go back to the doctor if you feel that you are not getting better. Remember, although going to the doctor or asthma nurse may sometimes seem intimidating, or you may feel you are taking up their time, you are entitled to see them to make sure you are doing everything to get your asthma under control. Thats what they are there for so Big Up Your Chest and get the service you deserve! Of course, if you feel that your relationship with you GP or asthma nurse is not great you could always ask to see a different doctor at your surgery or you might want to consider registering with a new GP. You can check for GP surgeries in your area by visiting nhs.uk. Some GPs have a special interest in asthma, so it is worth doing a little bit of research first before deciding on what surgery you should register with. Visiting your GP for an asthma review What is an asthma review? This is the name for a specific type of appointment with your doctor or asthma nurse to talk about your asthma and to discuss ways in which you can control your symptoms better. When should you have an asthma review? Every year if your symptoms are well controlled or more often if your symptoms are difficult to control. A month or so after your asthma medicines are changed, or if your normal medicine has been increased or decreased. This will give you the chance to let your GP or asthma nurse know how you are getting on. Within 48 hours of a serious asthma attack to make sure your symptoms are better controlled. You also need another review one to two weeks after a serious attack to make sure your symptoms are back under control. This is all about making sure you are doing all the right things to feel better as soon as possible.

If your personal asthma action plan is not helping you to get back in control of your symptoms. During a review you should expect to be asked the following three questions: Have you had difficulty sleeping because of your asthma symptoms (including cough)? Have you had your usual asthma symptoms during the day (cough, wheeze, chest tightness or breathlessness)? Has your asthma interfered with your usual activities? You can think about these three questions before you go to the review appointment, and if your answer is yes to any of these questions you can then discuss how to improve your asthma control during the review. At your asthma review you should also discuss: your written personal asthma action plan. If you dont have one, then ask your GP or nurse for one your asthma medicines and if they are working for you the inhalers you are using and if you are able to use your inhaler easily (Remember to take your inhaler/s with you to the review to show your technique to the doctor or nurse.) how your asthma is affecting your life.

Also, ask your GP if you need to have a flu jab, and when you can receive this vaccination
Remember, like all appointments, the GP/nurse is there to help you, so if you dont understand anything, just ask them to explain it to you again. Your review is all about getting and keeping good asthma control... after all, youre worth it! Just a final note you may be asked if you smoke when you see your doctor. You may feel embarrassed to say that you smoke, but being honest with your GP or asthma nurse will help you in the long run. Some asthma medicines dont work nearly as well if you smoke. We dont want to lecture you about smoking, but stopping may be the most important step you will ever take to get control over your asthma. There are different methods to support people who want to stop, so you could use some of the time with your doctor or asthma nurse to talk about the help available. There is more information on smoking and how it affects your asthma here.

Asthma UK 2011. Registered charity in England 802364 and in Scotland SCO39322

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Time of your life

Your late teens and earlier twenties are often seen as the best time of your life. Asthma Magazine looks at what you need to know as a young person with asthma to make sure you dont miss out on those first years of independence!

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s you grow and develop as a young adult new opportunities and challenges present themselves every day. But what if you also have a life long condition, such as asthma, and are stepping out into the world on your own for the first time? Young people starting new phases in their lives such as going to university are likely to encounter new experiences that could affect their asthma, such as alcohol, drugs or living away from home, explains Cher Piddock, Asthma UKs Asthma Nurse Specialist. Also, some students may find it challenging explaining their asthma to new friends, part-time employers or lecturers. We know from experience that students can be at risk of potentially

life-threatening asthma attacks and unplanned emergency hospital admissions if they forget to take their asthma medicines, or avoid buying them because they cant afford them. Nicky Reynolds is now 24 but shell never forget the issues she faced as an 18 year old with asthma leaving home and heading off to Exeter University to study Psychology. I was diagnosed with asthma back in 2000, and it was originally quite mild, explains Nicky. I was really nervous about going to uni as I wasnt sure how

Dont be afraid to confide in others about your asthma

my asthma would react to going out and clubbing, as smoke and cold air set my asthma off but I didnt want to get left behind! Leaving all my friends from home who knew me and what things made my asthma worse was scary. But on the other hand I was desperate to fit in with everyone and thought I needed to go out especially in Freshers Week so that I could make friends. Once at uni I wanted to hide my asthma to make me fit in. No one wants to be different, especially when you are the new one at a big university. So I tried to do the going out and clubbing scene for the first couple of days, I didnt want to get left out. Work hard and play hard, I guess thats the motto most uni Freshers will go by and I tried, I really tried for the first few days... The first evening I remember we

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I never felt so alone as I did in that first week, you can never underestimate how much having friends around helps!

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went to the uni bar and the smoke set me off a lot coughing and wheezing but I joked off the comments and tried to surreptitiously take my inhaler in the loos. By the end of the first evening I was feeling fairly rough and didnt really sleep. This carried on for a couple of nights with similar patterns but I was now really starting to struggle in the day too. I can remember doing Freshers events in the day like canoeing on the Exe and really struggling for breath and coughing away. I think it was on the fourth day of Freshers Week that I got worse. We had been out to the union bar and then to the Lemmy, the nightclub on campus, and I had gone back early as I felt awful and couldnt catch my breath, coughing lots etc. I can remember feeling so, so alone that night and not being well at all. I didnt know anyone

well enough to tell them how bad I felt but I knew I wasnt good. I just really wanted to be at home with people who knew me! One of my friends on my corridor came in the next morning to see if I was feeling better and noticed I wasnt really breathing right. She said I looked awful and persuaded me to go to the health centre on campus (though I remember thinking I couldnt go as I hadnt registered yet!). They took one look at me, stuck me on a nebuliser and packed me off to hospital. They were amazing and phoned ahead to the hospital so at least I didnt have to sit in A&E. I can remember sitting there being so scared on a ward with chest patients (so mostly older people!) when my family were over 100 miles away in Hampshire and I was in Exeter! It was not a great start to uni

life... And to top it all the trials I wanted to ride in for the uni riding team where the day I ended up in hospital typical! Id left my pony behind when I went to uni and I was desperate to ride on the uni team. I had always been sporty and was really looking forward to joining this, other university sports teams and trialing for the British University Sporting Association. My asthma gradually got worse and worse while I was at uni until it became severe in my last year, 2007/2008. This is when things became really tough. I was using nebs at home, on a lot of prednisolone and was struggling to keep up with my uni work. I was spending a lot of time in hospital but it was more the effort of trying to keep up with everyone else, which wasnt going so well.

Keep on top of your asthma treatment so you can work, rest and play!

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Feature I wasn't sure how my asthma would react to all the going out but I didnt want to get left behind
Nicky (second left) graduated with a degree in Psychology thanks to her hard work and the support of her friends Things however were better at home in that I had some wonderful housemates and friends who were brilliant and really looked after me. We often did things they knew I could do, like go for drink in the pub, not out to a club, or Id stay in and theyd come over. The health centre was actually quite good with me as I guess I had much more severe asthma to what they were used to seeing they did pick up the pieces a fair few times! I know that I would never have got through uni without my housemates and friends looking out for me and supporting me. They were great at telling me when I needed to stop and getting me help when I needed it, putting together my nebuliser for me and generally just including me in everything we did even if it meant changing what the group was doing to what I could do. I never felt so alone as I did in that first Freshers Week, you can never underestimate how much having friends around helps!

RELATIONSHIPS
From friends, family, partner, work colleagues or boss there will always be certain people that you may feel awkward or nervous talking to about your asthma. Its your choice about who
26 Asthma Magazine

you choose to tell about your asthma. Everybody with asthma is different, and everybody deals with asthma differently. For the vast majority of people, asthma shouldnt stop you enjoying everything in life, including relationships. Asthma affects one in five households so the chances are most people you meet will know about asthma, although understanding will vary from person to person. Asthma is a variable condition so it affects everyone differently and there are still lots of misunderstandings about asthma. Dont let this get you down this is your opportunity to tackle those myths and educate those around you they may thank you for it one day! There are lots of reasons why you might want to tell someone about your asthma. You might want some extra emotional support or it might be more practical stuff like needing someone to go and pick up a prescription for you. If youve recently moved away from home then this will be an opportunity to meet new friends. You may feel safer when youre out and about if youve got people around you who know that you have asthma. Think about why youre telling them and what the key information is that you want them to remember. Its important

that they understand that youre no different to anyone else. Its your choice about who you tell and how much you tell them but dont be afraid to confide in others it may bring you closer together.

WHAT SHOULD I TELL PEOPLE ABOUT MY ASTHMA?

What you tell them is up to you, especially as everyones asthma is different but its important that they know that asthma is manageable. Have a think about the sorts of things people might ask you, here are a few pointers to help get you started: What your asthma symptoms are. Everyone has different symptoms, for example, not everyone wheezes when they have an asthma attack. What your asthma triggers are. What your asthma medicines are and where you keep them. What they should do when you have an asthma attack you might like to give them an asthma attack card to keep. What it feels like to have asthma not everyone relates to hard facts so you could make it personal to you. Then you may find that people understand a lot better.

How to
Sign up with a university GP as soon as possible. If you were under a consultant at home ask your new GP to give you a referral to a consultant at the hospital local to your university. Check your room doesnt have any mould in it, and if it does report it and get it treated, as mould can be a trigger for people with asthma. If you have had to miss lengthy periods off from sixth form or college due to your asthma, go and see the university Student Welfare and Support office to see what help you are entitled to. Dont forget you may be entitled to financial support such as Disabled Students Allowances. Tell your new housemates that you have asthma, and about any allergies you have so that they can

Survive your first year at university

help you if you have any trouble. Fill in a HC1 form so you can get free prescriptions (unless youre going to University in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland where its free for everyone!). Dont forget to regularly clean your room and get rid of all those housedust mites! If youre living in university halls that do room spot checks, and you have a nebuliser, make sure they know its medical equipment (mine got removed because they thought it was something else!). Dont forget with all the partying to take your medicines! Got any more questions about asthma at university? Visit our website asthma.org.uk/youngadults Find us on facebook facebook.com/bigupyourchest Call one of our fantastic asthma nurse specialists on 0800 121 62 44

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Its good to talk

Some people find it easier to talk to someone other than a friend or a family member. Here are some ways Asthma UK can help you get in contact with people who understand the issues you might face living with asthma. Asthma UK Adviceline 0800 121 62 44 You can speak to one of our friendly Asthma Nurse Specialists. You can call them about any concerns you may have about asthma, no matter how big or small. Asthma UK Befriending Scheme If youd like to meet up with other people your age (18-25) with asthma in your area then you can get involved with Asthma UKs Befriending Scheme. Were looking for volunteers to join existing support groups or set up their own groups. Contact Clare at getinvolved@asthma.org.uk for more information. Asthma UK Forums asthma.org.uk The online Asthma UK discussion forums are a great way to speak with other young people with asthma.

Written by Alice, aged 20, Asthma UK volunteer and third year Student at Cardiff University

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What is asthma?
Here comes the science! Asthma is a condition that affects your airways (the small tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs). Usually, when your asthma is well-controlled, you will not see or feel your asthma even though it is there. When you do feel your asthma it is normally due to coming into contact with something you are allergic to, or something that irritates the lining of your airways. When this happens your airways will become inflamed and swollen. They also produce mucous. Overall this makes the airways narrower so it is harder to breathe.

Symptoms of asthma may include coughing, wheezing, having trouble breathing or when your chest feels tight. Asthma symptoms can come and go and you might just have one symptom or a combination of them. You may find you have these symptoms at different times of the day or different times in the year. Taking your

asthma medicines regularly should enable you to be free of asthma symptoms. This is great as it means you will be unlikely to have an asthma attack. Trigger happy (or not so happy as the case may be) Lots of things can cause asthma symptoms. These are called asthma triggers. People can have many triggers: cold and flu, dust, pets, pollen, cigarette smoke and exercise. No two people are the same. Different people will have different asthma triggers and most people have more than one. If you know what your triggers are, you should try your best to avoid them where possible. What causes asthma? It is hard to say what causes asthma. What we do know is: Family You are more likely to develop asthma if someone in your family has asthma, eczema or allergies. 21st century lifestyle There has been a rise in asthma over the past few decades this could be related to changes in peoples environments such as modern lifestyles and diets. Mothers who smoke Smoking during pregnancy can significantly increase the risk of a baby developing asthma and children whose parents smoke are more likely to develop asthma. Work Asthma can start at any age and some people can get asthma for the first time when exposed to certain irritants in the workplace. This is called occupational asthma. This condition can take weeks, months or even years to develop, depending on the person and the irritants you are exposed to. Asthma UK uses some of its donations to find out about causes of asthma. You can find out more about this on our research pages asthma.org.uk/research Asthma medicines Watch our video on how to take your inhalers. The kinds of medicines you may be on for asthma If you have asthma you will be given asthma medicines from your doctor or asthma nurse to help you control your asthma.

What does good control mean? Good control of your asthma means you should have: no daytime symptoms like coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing or tightness in your chest no waking at night because of asthma symptoms no asthma attacks no limitations on your normal day-to-day activities. There are two main types of asthma medicines preventers and relievers. They are usually inhalers. Preventers There are several different kinds of preventers, but they all work in the same way. Preventer inhalers come in different colours such as brown, red & orange. Preventers reduce long-term inflammation and contain a small amount of steroid medicine. They are a copy of the steroids produced naturally in your body. You take your preventer inhaler everyday, even when you feel well. It should be part of your day to day routine. The protective effect of preventer medicines builds up over a period of time so they need to be taken every day (usually morning and evening) even when you are feeling well. If you take your preventer everyday it should stop you getting asthma symptoms (eg coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath). If you take your preventer regularly and are still having symptoms, go and see your doctor or asthma nurse. Your preventer should be your best friend. It always listens, never talks back. It wont steal your clothes and saves your life! Amie, 18 Young person with asthma Relievers Everyone with asthma should have a reliever Reliever inhalers are usually blue You should take your reliever inhaler immediately if you get asthma symptoms. Your reliever will quickly relax the muscles surrounding the narrowed airways. This allows the airways to open wider, making it easier to breathe again. If you need to use your reliever inhaler three or more times a week, you should go to your doctor or asthma nurse and have your asthma checked as your asthma is probably not as well controlled as it could be.

Other asthma medicines If these medicines do not work, your doctor may consider putting you on extra medicine to help your asthma. These include long-acting reliever inhalers, preventer tablets and Theophylline. Click here for more info. What are the side effects of asthma medicines? Like most medicines, asthma medicines can have side effects in some people. It is normal to worry about side effects but they generally only happen in a small number of cases. Its important for you to talk to your doctor or asthma nurse about any concerns or worries you may have about side effects. They can explain to you what some of the common side effects might be and advise you about what to do to help prevent them. Side effects from relievers Relievers are generally very safe and have few side effects. Some relievers can temporarily increase your heartbeat or give you mild muscle shakes. These effects are more common when taking higher doses. However, they generally wear off within a few minutes or a few hours at most. Side effects from preventers With preventer medicine there is a small risk of having a sore tongue, sore throat, hoarseness of the voice and a mouth infection called oral thrush (Oral thrush thrush in your mouth - is caused by an overgrowth of yeast which lives naturally in your body). To help prevent these side effects, rinse your mouth out and brush your teeth after using your preventer inhaler. Using a spacer will also help reduce the possibility of oral thrush. Talk to your doctor or asthma nurse about how to use a spacer. As mentioned above side effects only tend to happen in a small number of people and the benefits of using the asthma medicines outweigh the costs. If you dont take your asthma medicines you run the risk of having an asthma attack and it can lead to long-term lung damage. Steroid tablets Occasionally, if your asthma symptoms become severe, your doctor may give you a short course of steroid tablets. They work quickly and powerfully to help to calm your inflamed airways. Short courses of tablets, anything from 314 days, will not give any long-term side effects. It is possible that if you are taking high doses of preventer medicines over a long time they may cause some other side effects. To find out more about these other

side effects click here. If you would like to chat about side effects you can ask your doctor or asthma nurse or call our Asthma Nurse Specialists at Asthma UK on 0800 121 62 44. What happens if I dont take my asthma medicines? We have been asked this question a lot! And the answer wont change. If you dont take your preventer medicine your asthma is likely to get out of control and you will find you get your asthma symptoms back. This may take some time or it can happen quite quickly. At worst, it may lead to you having a serious asthma attack. If you do take your asthma (preventer) medicine you will be more able to do the things you want to do! You will be less likely to have asthma attacks and less likely to react badly to your asthma triggers. Some people have told us they have missed out on festivals or day trips because of their asthma but this neednt be the case if you take your medicine. It can be hard to remember to take them but its worth it in the long run. Find a way that helps you to remember every day. You could talk to your friends to see what they do or call our asthma nurses to see if they can help. The costs of not taking your medicines are high. In the long term, if you dont take your medicines, you could end up with lung damage. Asthma attacks now for the serious stuff Asthma attack. Please note that you may find some of this video distressing. After being ill for about two or three days I took a turn for the worse. While going about my everyday life, my chest started to feel tight. I alerted my mum who told my sister to go and get my inhaler from my bedroom. My mum rushed to my side trying to calm me down as I started to hyperventilate and panic. I had never had to fight for breathe before and here I was struggling to breathe. I was blue lighted to the local hospital to be met by a sea of doctors and nurses. They rushed to get my breathing under control. It was the scariest experience of my life. Person with asthma, 18 What is an asthma attack? In an asthma attack your airways become swollen and the muscles around your airways become very tight which makes the airways narrower. This makes it more difficult to breathe. The good news is that most asthma attacks do not come out of the blue. Normally your asthma will get worse over a few days before you have an attack so you should have time to take action.

Asthma attacks are serious. Many people are admitted to hospital (an average of 202 a day in the UK) and sometimes asthma attacks can be life threatening so its really important to recognise an attack and to know what to do if you are having one. Click here for more info about what to do in an asthma attack. Top Tips How to avoid having asthma attacks Here are some suggestions about how to avoid asthma attacks: Take your preventer inhaler every day even when you are well Make sure you are taking your inhalers properly - you can get your inhaler technique checked by your doctor or asthma nurse. Also check out our inhaler technique video Get a Personal Asthma Action Plan (following this plan can make you four times less likely to be admitted to hospital) Book yourself in for an asthma review at your doctors surgery (you should have one every year) Avoid things that you know trigger your asthma Keep active by doing regular exercise if your asthma is well controlled exercise can help improve your asthma. Just one final thing If this information has raised more questions for you about managing your asthma or if you have any questions about your medicines then why not give the Asthma UK Adviceline a call? You can call our Asthma Nurse Specialists on 0800 121 62 44. (Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Calls are free from a BT landline) It is possible for the vast majority of people with asthma to become free of asthma symptoms. Getting good control by taking your medicines and following your Personal Asthma Action Plan is the key to a life free of symptoms.

Asthma UK 2011. Registered charity in England 802364 and in Scotland SCO39322

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Smoking
Whether its cigarettes or cannabis, smoking can damage the lungs and make your asthma worse. Its not our place to lecture you about giving up smoking so here are the facts about smoking and asthma (and you can make up your own mind!): Smoking is dangerous. Its the greatest cause of ill health and premature death in the UK. Smoking irritates your airways and causes them to narrow, which makes your asthma symptoms (coughing, wheezing, tight chest and shortness of breath) worse. Smoking increases the risk of asthma attacks. Smokers who have asthma are more likely to require higher doses of preventer medicine to control their symptoms. Smoking can cause permanent damage to your lungs and airways. Avoid smoking during pregnancy and ask others not to smoke around you as this is best for mum and baby. Women who smoke in pregnancy are more likely to have smaller babies (not good for baby) and babies with breathing problems. Quitting isnt easy, but if you have asthma, stopping smoking may be one of the greatest things you can do to improve your life and health. If youre thinking about giving up or would like to know more about smoking, check out Quit the UK charity that helps smokers to stop: Quit quit.org.uk stopsmoking@quit.org.uk quitline: 0800 00 22 00 Asian quitline: 0800 00 22 88 asthma.org.uk/smoking

Asthma UK 2011. Registered charity in England 802364 and in Scotland SCO39322

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Exercise
Getting out the house and exercising is a great way to clear your head and keeping fit is good for your lungs and for your overall health. Exercise improves lung function and your asthma should not stop you doing some form of exercise as long as you: keep your asthma well controlled by taking your preventer inhaler regularly increase your fitness levels gradually always have your reliever inhaler with you when you exercise do a gentle warm up for ten minutes before exercising fully try not to come into contact with things that trigger your asthma. For example, long-distance or cross-country running may involve some strong triggers because they take place outside in cold air without short breaks, or because you are exposed to increased levels of pollen, particularly in the summer months. Some people with asthma find that exercise triggers their asthma symptoms and this can be a sign that your asthma is poorly controlled. If exercise triggers your asthma, make sure you take your preventer inhaler every day and use your reliever inhaler immediately before you warm up. If you need your reliever inhaler more than twice a week you should see your GP or asthma nurse, as your asthma may not be under control. Ensure that you always warm up and down thoroughly. Its also important to stay hydrated by drinking enough water.

What are the best types of exercise for people with asthma?
Team sports like football or hockey are good as they are played in brief bursts with short breaks in between. Fitness classes involving short periods of aerobic exercise. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for people with asthma as the warm humid air in the swimming pool is less likely to trigger symptoms of asthma. (However, swimming in cold water or heavily chlorinated pools may trigger your asthma). Yoga and Pilates are good types of exercise for people with asthma as they relax the body and may help with breathing. If pollen triggers your asthma then avoid exercising outdoors when the pollen count is high.

Some sports and activities, such as scuba-diving, climbing, hiking or skiing at high altitudes or in cold weather, can cause problems for some people with asthma. Check out our factfile for more information about this.

Asthma UK 2011. Registered charity in England 802364 and in Scotland SCO39322

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Depression
What is depression? People often use the word depression to describe feeling a bit low or fed up although true depression is a more serious and prolonged feeling. Often, when you feel down someone or something can help pick you back up again but if you feel down for a long time and it starts getting in the way of your everyday life then you may have depression. Depression and asthma Everyone reacts differently to any illness or long-term condition and people can sometimes experience negative emotions relating to their asthma, such as anxiety, fear and embarrassment. If you do feel like this you are not alone - some studies suggest that depression is two to three times more common in people with chronic illnesses or long-term conditions. Depression can also impact your asthma and your quality of life for example, when you feel low your asthma gets worse because depression leaves you feeling tired and unmotivated to look after asthma properly. In turn, having to put up with asthma symptoms can make you more worried and depressed, and you may feel that your doctor or asthma nurse doesnt understand. But your doctor and nurse are there to help you. Top tips for managing depression and asthma When youre feeling depressed its sometimes hard to keep in mind the things you need to do to keep healthy but paying attention to your health and well-being is really important. Look after yourself by following our suggestions below: Try not to smoke If youre a smoker, you may notice that you smoke more when you feel depressed. This wont help either your asthma or depression and can make you feel more anxious and stressed. Eat well and eat regularly A healthy balanced diet can keep your mood on an even keel. Try to avoid too much sugar, caffeine and alcohol which can affect your mood. Try to keep active Exercise actually releases endorphins which are chemicals in the brain that promote a happy mood. Check out our exercising top tips to get you started.

Talk about how you feel Talking about how you feel is really important in tackling depression. Try relaxation techniques Some studies have shown that breathing training and relaxation taught by a physiotherapist can reduce asthma symptoms and improve quality of life. These exercises work by promoting general relaxation and lessening some of the physical tension that builds up from ongoing stress and depression. The most important thing to remember is that depression is not an easy thing, but taking one day at a time and keeping an open mind about the support available to you can eventually lead to a better outlook. You can find out lots more about depression, its impact on your asthma and the things you can do to help by downloading our factfile.

Asthma UK 2011. Registered charity in England 802364 and in Scotland SCO39322

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Talk to someone
Sometimes the last thing you want to do when youre feeling down is talk about it but telling a good friend who you think you can confide in about how you feel can really help. You may not find this easy to do but bottling up your emotions wont help either. Writing down how you feel and what you want to say can sometimes help. Also, some people find it easier to talk to someone other than a friend or a family member. You could talk to your asthma nurse or doctor, or you may prefer to talk to someone in confidence on our Adviceline. Here are some ways to contact Asthma UK to talk to someone who understands. Asthma UK Adviceline You can speak to one of our friendly Asthma Nurse Specialists. You can call them about any concerns you may have about asthma, no matter how big or small. Asthma UK Befriending Scheme If youd like to meet up with other people your age with asthma in your area then you can get involved with Asthma UKs Befriending Scheme. Were looking for volunteers to join existing support groups or set up their own groups. Asthma UK Forums The Asthma UK forums are a great way to speak with other people with asthma. Other organisations Check out the list of useful organisations below that can help you get back on your feet. Need a bit of help finding help? You can talk to your asthma nurse or doctor about your feelings and they may suggest or refer you for additional support or you can also check out these useful organisations who also offer free support and guidance: University Counselling Services student.counselling.co.uk Provides information about support available to UK university students and helps students locate appropriate services.

Anxiety UK anxietyuk.org.uk Provides information and support for those living with anxiety disorders. Also has a downloadable booklet about dealing with exam stress. ChildLine helpline: 0800 1111 childline.org.uk Free confidential 24-hour helpline for children and young people in the UK with webchat facility. Get Connected helpline: 0808 808 4994 help@getconnected.org.uk getconnected.org.uk A free service including a webchat facility for young people advising on how to get the best help. Samaritans helpline: 08457 90 90 90 jo@samaritans.org samaritans.org 24-hour emergency telephone helpline. Youth Access 020 8772 9900 youthaccess.org.uk Information on youth counselling. YoungMinds 020 7336 8445 youngminds.org.uk National charity committed to improving the mental health of all babies, children and young people. Provides information for both parents and young people. Mind Infoline: 0300 123 3393 info@mind.org.uk National charity helping people take control of their mental health by providing information and advice.

Asthma UK 2011. Registered charity in England 802364 and in Scotland SCO39322

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How to survive your first year at university:

Sign up with a university GP as soon as possible. If you were under a consultant at home ask your new GP to give you a referral to a consultant at the hospital local to your university. Check your room doesnt have any mould in it, and if it does report it and get it treated, as mould can be a trigger for people with asthma. If you have had to miss lengthy periods off from sixth form or college due to your asthma, go and see the university Student Welfare and Support office to see what help you are entitled to. Dont forget you may be entitled to financial support such as Disabled Students Allowances. Tell your new flatmates that you have asthma, and about any allergies you have so that they can help you if you have any trouble. Fill in a HC1 form so you can get free prescriptions (unless youre going to University in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland where its free for everyone!) Dont forget to regularly clean your room and get rid of all those house-dust mites! If youre living in university halls that do room spot checks, and you have a nebuliser, make sure they know its medical equipment (mine got removed because they thought it was a bong!). Dont forget with all the partying to take your medicines!
Written by Alice, aged 20, Asthma UK volunteer and third year Student at Cardiff University

Got any more questions about asthma at university? Visit our website asthma.org.uk/youngadults Find us on facebook facebook.com/bigupyourchest Call one of our fantastic asthma nurse specialists on 0800 121 62 44

Asthma UK 2011. Registered charity in England 802364 and in Scotland SCO39322

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Saving money on the cost of asthma at university

Many people find the cost of living with asthma difficult and its particularly difficult when youre a student and not earning much money. We hope the information and advice below will help. These are recommendations from students with asthma at university, and our Asthma UK nurses.

Disabled Students Allowances

Disabled Students Allowances (DSA) can provide you with extra financial help if you have a disability, an ongoing health condition like asthma, mental health condition or a specific learning difficulty like dyslexia and you want to go to university. You do not need to pay it back and the amount you get does not depend on your income, it depends on the help you need. A lot of people with asthma do not realise that they may be eligible to apply for this and it is well worth looking into. It varies across the UK so: For England visit Directgov website direct.gov.uk For Northern Ireland visit Student Finance Northern Ireland studentfinanceni.co.uk For Scotland visit Student Award Agency for Scotland saas.gov.uk For Wales visit Student Finance Wales studentfinancewales.co.uk

Save money on prescription charges (England only)

If you are at university in England, you will need to pay for your prescriptions. Those at university in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and registered with a doctor there, do not have to. The cost of an item on prescription is 7.40 (correct April 2011) in England. Here are some things that may help you save some money on them:

Low Income Scheme - HC1 forms

Some students may be able to get help with NHS costs and prescriptions through the NHS Low Income Scheme. This means you may get a large discount on your prescriptions or you may even get them free! For this you will need to

complete NHS HC1 claim form. You can request a form by calling 0845 850 1166 or order online by visiting the NHS Business Services Authority website nhsbsa.nhs.uk

Pre-payment certificates (PPC)

Try taking advantage of the pre-payment certificate which is like a season ticket, saving you money if you need regular prescriptions. A Pre-payment certificate in England is: 29.10 for three months (worthwhile if you need more than three items during this period). 104 for 12 months (worthwhile if you need more than 14 items during this period). Go to our factfile on prescriptions for more information asthma.org.uk/factfiles or visit the PPC section of the NHS Business Service Authority website nhsbsa.nhs.uk Another way to save is to have more than one preventer inhaler at a time. Some GPs will allow this but it will depend entirely on local policies so ask you GP. It can work well for some people as this way you will only pay for one prescription.

Other financial help available:

There are educational grants out there to support students in education. See if any are of relevance to you. Visit the Turn 2 Us website for more information turn2us.org.uk. Speak to your Student Welfare and Support office as they may be able to help you. Also sometimes universities have their own grant or loan schemes in place. Check out the financial assistance section of the Asthma UK website. It lists all financial help available to people with asthma. asthma.org.uk

Asthma UK 2011. Registered charity in England 802364 and in Scotland SCO39322

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My tips around travelling with asthma by Ben McNally

Get travel insurance
One of the first things you should always look into when leaving the country, whether it be for a lads or girls summer holiday, or a gap year abroad, is travel insurance. Although it might seem tedious to search through all the policies and expensive for something you probably (and hopefully) wont use, it is absolutely essential. When I visited Australia I went sailing around the Whitsunday Islands (a must do if you manage to get down to Oz), if I had suffered an asthma attack while on one of the islands and needed emergency treatment the only way to get to a hospital was by plane or helicopter. In an emergency, because its essential theyll do everything to take care of you and make sure you are okay, but once you get home you will definitely get the bill for it, and it can cost thousands and thousands of pounds. Although this might seem like an extreme case, to put it in perspective; just to visit a doctor in the USA can cost over 100, and thats just a 15 minute consult. Spending a fraction of that amount on insurance will cover the costs of any medical treatment that you have whilst abroad, not just one doctors appointment or replacement prescription. You must make sure to let the insurance company know that you have asthma. If you dont do this and something were to happen, the insurance company can rightly claim that it was misinformed and may not pay out if you make a claim. Making sure its for the right amount of time, and that the right type of activities are covered is also of equal importance, and its usually worth paying an extra 10 or so for a medical excess waiver in my opinion. When you are travelling around countries in the EU, make sure you take your EHIC/E111 card with you to allow you access to the same level and cost of treatment as the local people.

Be aware of rules around carrying medicines into different countries

Although most of the places I visited were okay, I was told that in some countries theyre really strict on prescription medicines, and if you dont have the original packaging, prescription and instructions for your pills or inhalers they can be confiscated. In some countries there are laws about having certain amounts of different drugs with you. Consequently, its definitely worth checking online before you go whats okay and whats not, but either way, you should take your prescription or a doctors note with you just in case. These sorts of documents will also be useful if you need to get any more of your medicines while abroad, and should be considered when thinking about any medicine you take, not just asthma related items.

Let people youre travelling with know you have asthma

I was travelling for most of the time with at least one friend from home, but there were often times when we were the only people who spoke English in an entire village, so its well worth letting your travel partner/s know that you have asthma, where your inhaler is, how to use it and what to do in an emergency, because having someone around who knows of your condition is invaluable, especially if neither of you speak the local language.

Be aware of the different climates

When I was in Singapore and Bangkok it was unbelievably humid, and I found my chest getting tighter there, so accounting for the kind of climates that youre likely to visit is really important. Before I went away, I didnt really think about how the weather was going to affect my asthma so its worth having a check on how the conditions in places youre likely to be going may affect you. Also, although I never really planned it, I ended up climbing up mountains and scuba diving in the ocean while I was away. In hindsight obviously the extra exercise combined with the various altitudes and depths of these activities meant that I really couldve actually done with my inhaler being handy for the first time in years, rather than in my backpack at the hostel, so when youre looking into and planning out activities that you think theres even the smallest opportunity you might do, its worth thinking in advance about what you might need (as you tend to get caught up in spur of the moment decisions when youre away!). Overall, travelling with asthma isnt too daunting really; just having a look over the checklist below should set you up for safe travels abroad. I hope you have as much fun as I did on my year out. Ben McNally (3 continents, 5 trips, 7 months away, 2,500 photos, and back home in one piece). Key Questions Checklist: Do you have adequate travel insurance? Is it worth paying the excess waiver for medical care? Does it cover me for the right activities and the correct length of time I will be away? Is it legal to take your medicines into the countries you are visiting? Do you have the appropriate prescriptions, labels and doctors notes to identify them to customs and to get replacements if necessary? Have I got the correct type of inhaler for the activities I am likely to do? Will the climate/geography of where I am visiting affect what and how much medicine I need?

If you are thinking about travelling to areas of high altitude, Asthma UKs asthma nurses have put together the following advice for you to keep in mind. Generally fit healthy people with well controlled asthma should have no problems coping with high altitudes as long as they ascend slowly, recognise and accept their limitations and adjust their medicine if need be. Altitude starts to have an effect at around 1,500-2,000 metres and the body starts to adapt to the change in oxygen levels. As you go higher the air pressure gets lower (the air gets thinner), and this means that in any single breath that you take there will be less oxygen for your body. Oxygen is needed to give you the energy to move but is also vital for all your organs. As your body gets less oxygen it adapts. You breathe faster and deeper. This makes more red blood cells to carry more oxygen in your blood. These changes take time to happen which is why we advise for you to ascend slowly and this will keep you healthy. If you ascend to fast you may be at risk of developing acute mountain sickness. Remember to set yourself realistic goals. When travelling at altitude the most important thing is to have your asthma well controlled before you travel. Here are some tips which you may find useful. Make an appointment with your doctor or asthma nurse well in advance for a review of your asthma and ask for an asthma action plan if you dont have one already. It will contain information on what to do should your asthma worsen, what steps to take and what to do in an emergency. Always carry Asthma UKs Asthma Attack Card with you and have your reliever inhaler with you at all times. Ask your doctor to prescribe a spare inhaler to take with you just in case. Make sure your medicines are labelled with doses and keep these safe along with a doctors letter. Have travel insurance arranged and consider registering with the Foreign Commonwealth Office. Make sure you know how to access an English speaking doctor in the area you intend to visit and seek medical attention at any time if your feel unwell.

Asthma UK 2011. Registered charity in England 802364 and in Scotland SCO39322

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Asthma basics
Asthma is a condition that affects the airways the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. When a person with asthma comes into contact with something that irritates their airways (an asthma trigger), the muscles around the walls of the airways tighten so that the airways become narrower and the lining of the airways becomes inflamed and starts to swell. Sometimes, sticky mucus or phlegm builds up, which can further narrow the airways. These reactions cause the airways to become narrower and irritated making it difficult to breath and leading to symptoms of asthma. The usual symptoms of asthma are: coughing wheezing shortness of breath tightness in the chest. Not everyone will get all of these symptoms. Some people experience them from time to time; a few people may experience these symptoms all the time. Although theres no cure for asthma, there are effective medicines for asthma that allow most people to control their asthma so that is doesnt interfere with daily life. As asthma is a lifelong condition its important that you take your asthma medicine as directed. Your doctor or asthma nurse should have explained how to use your inhalers properly, so that every dose you take gives you the most benefit. Find out the right way to use your reliever and preventer inhalers and more about steroids, spacers and nebulisers, and possible side effects.

Controlling your asthma

Too many people with asthma spend time in hospital when they shouldnt have to: 75% of hospital admissions could be avoided. If your asthma is under control, youre more likely to have a better quality of life and be more able to do the things you want to. Three questions can help you to decide whether your symptoms are under control:

In the last month: have you had difficulty sleeping because of your asthma symptoms (including cough)? have you had your usual asthma symptoms during the day (cough, wheeze, chest tightness or breathlessness)? has your asthma interfered with your usual activities eg housework, work, school etc? If youve answered yes to any of the above questions, it may be that your asthma is not as well controlled as it could be. See your doctor or asthma nurse to discuss how you may be able to improve your asthma control or call our Adviceline on 0800 121 62 44. Signs that your asthma is not well controlled may include: waking at night with coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath or a tightness in the chest having to take time off work because of your asthma finding it difficult to breathe, and breathing short shallow breaths needing more and more of your reliever finding that your reliever does not seem to be working having to take your reliever more than every four hours feeling that you cannot keep up with your usual level of activity or exercise

Help for you to take control of your symptoms

You can take control of your asthma by knowing what medicines to take, how much and when to take them. It is also important to avoid things that trigger your asthma and know what to do if your symptoms get worse. All of this information should be recorded on a personal asthma action plan, which your doctor or asthma nurse should complete in discussion with you. Asthma UK produces a free pack called Be in Control which includes an action plan, peak flow diary, medicines card and asthma review card. Top tips for getting your asthma under control

Asthma UK Adviceline
If you would like to speak to an asthma nurse specialist about getting your asthma under control, please contact the Asthma UK Adviceline. You can telephone them on 0800 121 62 44 (9am5pm, MondayFriday). Read more about the Asthma UK Adviceline.

Asthma UK 2011. Registered charity in England 802364 and in Scotland SCO39322

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Sut i oroesi eich blwyddyn gyntaf yn y brifysgol:

Cofrestrwch Meddyg Teulu yn y brifysgol cyn gynted phosibl. Os oeddech yn gweld ymgynghorydd gartref, gofynnwch ich Meddyg Teulu newydd eich atgyfeirio at ymgynghorydd yn yr ysbyty lleol. Gwnewch yn sir nad oes unrhyw lwydni yn eich ystafell. Os oes llwydni, rhowch wybod amdano a gwnewch yn sir ei fod yn cael ei drin gan fod llwydni yn aml yn sbardun i bobl ag asthma. Os oedd yn rhaid i chi gymryd cyfnodau hir i ffwrdd or chweched dosbarth neur coleg oherwydd eich asthma, ewch i siarad swyddfa Cymorth a Lles Myfyrwyr y brifysgol i weld pa help sydd ar gael i chi. Cofiwch y gall fod gennych hawl i gael cymorth ariannol gan y llywodraeth megis Lwfansau Myfyrwyr Anabl. Dywedwch wrth y bobl y byddwch yn rhannu llety nhw fod gennych asthma, ac am unrhyw alergeddau sydd gennych er mwyn iddynt eich helpu os byddwch yn mynd i drafferth. Llenwch ffurflen HC1 fel y gallwch gael presgripsiynau am ddim (oni bai eich bod yn mynd ir Brifysgol yng Nghymru, yn yr Alban neu yng Ngogledd Iwerddon lle y maent am ddim i bawb!) Cofiwch lanhau eich ystafell yn rheolaidd a chael gwared ar unrhyw widdon llwch! Os byddwch yn byw mewn neuadd breswyl lle cynhelir hapwiriadau o ystafelloedd, a bod gennych nebiwlydd, gwnewch yn sir bod y brifysgol yn gwybod mai cyfarpar meddygol ydyw (gwnaethant gymryd fy un i am eu bod yn credu mai bong ydoedd!). Peidiwch ag anghofio cymryd eich meddyginiaethau yng nghanol yr holl barton!
Rhestr gan Alice, 20 oed, syn wirfoddolwr gydag Asthma UK ac yn Fyfyriwr trydedd flwyddyn ym Mhrifysgol Caerdydd

Oes gennych ragor o gwestiynau am asthma yn y brifysgol? Ewch in gwefan asthma.org.uk/youngadults Dewch o hyd i ni ar facebook facebook.com/bigupyourchest Ffoniwch un on harbenigwyr nyrsio asthma arbennig ar 0800 121 62 44

Asthma UK 2011. Rhif elusen gofrestredig yn Lloegr 802364 ar Alban SCO39322

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Arbed arian ar gost asthma yn y brifysgol

Maer gost o fyw gydag asthma yn anodd i lawer o bobl ac maen arbennig o anodd pan fyddwch yn fyfyriwr a ddim yn ennill llawer o arian. Gobeithio y bydd y wybodaeth ar cyngor isod yn helpu. Dyma argymhellion gan fyfyrwyr yn y brifysgol sydd ag asthma a nyrsys Asthma UK.

Lwfansau Myfyrwyr Anabl

Gall Lwfansau Myfyrwyr Anabl roi help ariannol ychwanegol i chi os oes gennych anabledd, cyflwr iechyd parhaus fel asthma, cyflwr iechyd meddwl neu anhawster dysgu penodol fel dyslecsia, ac rydych am fynd ir brifysgol. Ni fydd angen i chi ei dalu yn l ac nid ywr swm a roddir i chi yn dibynnu ar eich incwm, maen dibynnu ar yr help sydd ei angen arnoch. Nid yw llawer o bobl ag asthma yn sylweddoli y gallant fod yn gymwys i wneud cais am yr arian hwn ac maen sicr yn werth ymchwilio iddo. Maen amrywio ledled y DU, felly: Yng Nghymru, ewch i wefan Cyllid Myfyrwyr Cymru studentfinancewales.co.uk Yn Lloegr, ewch i wefan Directgov direct.gov.uk Yng Ngogledd Iwerddon, ewch i wefan Student Finance Northern Ireland studentfinanceni.co.uk Yn yr Alban, ewch i wefan Student Award Agency for Scotland saas.gov.uk

Arbed arian ar gostau presgripsiynau (Lloegr yn unig)

Os byddwch yn mynd ir brifysgol yn Lloegr, bydd angen i chi dalu am eich presgripsiynau. Ni fydd angen ir rhai syn mynd ir brifysgol yng Nghymru, yn yr Alban ac yng Ngogledd Iwerddon, ac sydd wediu cofrestru meddyg yno, wneud hynny. Mae eitem ar bresgripsiwn yn costio 7.40 (cywir ym mis Ebrill 2011) yn Lloegr. Dyma rai pethau a all eich helpu i arbed rhywfaint o arian ar gostau presgripsiynau:

Cynllun Incwm Isel - ffurflenni HC1

Efallai y bydd rhai myfyrwyr yn gallu cael help chostaur GIG a phresgripsiynau drwy Gynllun Incwm Isel y GIG. Mae hyn yn golygu y gallech gael gostyngiad mawr ar eich presgripsiynau neu hyd yn oed eu cael am ddim! Bydd angen i chi

gwblhau ffurflen gais HC1 y GIG i wneud hyn. Gallwch ofyn am ffurflen drwy ffonio 0845 850 1166 neu archebu ar-lein drwy fynd i wefan Awdurdod Gwasanaethau Busnes y GIG nhsbsa.nhs.uk

Tystysgrifau rhagdalu
Ceisiwch fanteisio ar dystysgrif rhagdalu syn debyg i docyn tymor gan ei bod yn arbed arian i chi os oes angen presgripsiynau arnoch yn rheolaidd. Mae Tystysgrif rhagdalu yn Lloegr yn costio: 29.10 am dri mis (maen werth ei chael os bydd angen mwy na thair eitem arnoch yn ystod y cyfnod hwn). 104 am 12 mis (maen werth ei chael os bydd angen mwy na 14 eitem arnoch yn ystod y cyfnod hwn). Cymerwch olwg ar ein dogfen ffeithiau ar bresgripsiynau am ragor o wybodaeth (asthma.org.uk/factfiles) neu ewch ir adran ar Dystysgrifau Rhagdalu ar wefan Awdurdod Gwasanaethau Busnes y GIG yn nhsbsa.nhs.uk Mae cael mwy nag un anadlydd ataliol ar y tro yn ffordd arall o arbed arian. Bydd rhai Meddygon Teulu yn caniatu hyn ond bydd yn dibynnun llwyr ar bolisau lleol felly gofynnwch ich Meddyg Teulu. Gall weithion dda i rai pobl gan mai dim ond un presgripsiwn y bydd angen i chi dalu amdano. Mathau eraill o help ariannol sydd ar gael: Mae grantiau addysgol ar gael i helpu myfyrwyr mewn addysg. Edrychwch i weld a oes rhai syn berthnasol i chi. Ewch i wefan Turn 2 Us am ragor o wybodaeth turn2us.org.uk Siaradwch ch swyddfa Cymorth a Lles Myfyrwyr oherwydd efallai y gallant eich helpu. Hefyd, weithiau bydd gan brifysgolion eu cynlluniau grantiau neu fenthyciadau eu hunain ar waith. Edrychwch ar adran cymorth ariannol gwefan Asthma UK. Maen rhestru pob math o help ariannol sydd ar gael i bobl ag asthma. asthma.org.uk

Asthma UK 2011. Registered charity in England 802364 and in Scotland SCO39322

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Fy awgrymiadau ar gyfer teithio ag asthma Trefnwch yswiriant teithio

Un or pethau cyntaf y dylech ei ystyried pan fyddwch yn gadael y wlad, boed yn wyliau haf gydar bois neur merched, neun flwyddyn allan dramor, yw yswiriant teithio. Er y gall ymddangos yn ddiflas chwilio drwyr holl bolisau ac yn ddrud am rywbeth na fyddwch chi (gobeithio) yn ei ddefnyddio, maen gwbl hanfodol. Pan ymwelais i ag Awstralia, es i hwylio o amgylch Ynysoedd Whitsunday (rhywbeth syn rhaid i chi ei wneud os byddwch yn cael cyfle i ymweld ag Awstralia), pe bawn i wedi dioddef pwl o asthma tra roeddwn ar un or ynysoedd a bod angen triniaeth frys arna i, dim ond drwy gael awyren neu hofrennydd y byddwn wedi gallu cyrraedd yr ysbyty. Mewn argyfwng, am ei bod yn hanfodol, byddant yn gwneud popeth y gallant i ofalu amdanoch a gwneud yn siwr eich bod yn iawn, ond unwaith i chi gyrraedd adref byddwch yn sicr o gael bil amdano, a gall gostio miloedd ar filoedd o bunnoedd. Mae hon yn enghraifft eithriadol, ond cofiwch y gall gostio dros 100 i ymweld meddyg yn UDA, dim ond am ymgynghoriad chwarter awr. Os byddwch yn gwario ffracsiwn or swm hwnnw ar yswiriant, bydd costau unrhyw driniaeth feddygol rydych yn ei chael pan fyddwch dramor yn cael eu talu, nid dim ond apwyntiad meddyg neu bresgripsiwn newydd. Cofiwch roi gwybod ir cwmni yswiriant bod gennych asthma. Os na fyddwch yn gwneud hynny a bod rhywbeth yn mynd o chwith, gall y cwmni yswirio hawlion gyfiawn na roddwyd y wybodaeth gywir iddo ac efallai na fydd yn talu os byddwch yn gwneud hawliad. Maer un mor bwysig gwneud yn siwr ei fod yn cwmpasur cyfnod cywir, ar math cywir o weithgareddau, ac mae fel arfer yn werth talu tua 10 yn ychwanegol i hepgor y tl-dros-ben am ofal meddygol yn fy marn i. Pan fyddwch yn teithio o gwmpas gwledydd yn yr UE, gwnewch yn siwr eich bod yn mynd cherdyn EHIC/ E111 gyda chi syn eich galluogi i gael gafael ar yr un lefel o driniaeth, am yr un pris, phobl leol. Byddwch yn ymwybodol or rheolau o ran mynd meddyginiaeth i mewn i wledydd eraill. Er bod y rhan fwyaf or lleoedd yr ymwelais i nhw yn iawn, cefais wybod eu bod yn llym iawn mewn rhai gwledydd o ran meddyginiaethau presgripsiwn, ac os nad ywr pecyn gwreiddiol, y presgripsiwn ar cyfarwyddiadau gennych chi, gall yr awdurdodau eu cymryd oddi wrthych. Mewn rhai gwledydd, ceir rheolau ynglyn chael symiau penodol o gyffuriau gwahanol gyda chi. O ganlyniad, maen sicr yn werth edrych ar-lein cyn i chi fynd i weld beth syn iawn a beth syn annerbyniol, ond dylech fynd ch presgripsiwn neu nodyn gan y meddyg gyda chi rhag ofn beth bynnag. Bydd dogfennau or fath yn ddefnyddiol os bydd angen i chi gael rhagor

och meddyginiaethau pan fyddwch dramor, a dylech ystyried gwneud hynny ar gyfer unrhyw feddyginiaethau rydych yn eu cymryd, nid dim ond pethau syn gysylltiedig ag asthma. Rhowch wybod i bobl rydych yn teithio gyda nhw bod gennych asthma Roeddwn yn teithio gydag o leiaf un ffrind o gartref am y rhan fwyaf or amser, ond yn aml, ni fyddair unig bobl a oedd yn siarad Saesneg yn y pentref, felly maen sicr yn werth rhoi gwybod ich partner/iaid teithio bod gennych asthma, ble y mae eich anadlydd, sut iw ddefnyddio a beth iw wneud mewn argyfwng, oherwydd maen amhrisiadwy cael rhywun wrth law syn gwybod am eich cyflwr, yn enwedig os na fydd yr un or ddau ohonoch yn siarad yr iaith leol. Byddwch yn ymwybodol or hinsawdd wahanol Pan roeddwn yn Singapr a Bangkok roedd yn arbennig o glos, a gallwn deimlo fy mrest yn tynhau yno, felly maen bwysig iawn ystyried y mathau o hinsoddau rydych yn debyg o ymweld nhw. Cyn mynd i ffwrdd, ni feddyliais am sut y byddair tywydd yn effeithio ar fy asthma, felly maen werth edrych i weld sut y gall yr hinsawdd yn y mannau rydych yn debygol o ymweld nhw effeithio arnoch. Hefyd, er nad oeddwn i wedi bwriadu gwneud hynny, es i ddringo mynyddoedd a phlymio sgwba yn y mr tra roeddwn i ffwrdd. O edrych yn l, roedd yr ymarfer corff ychwanegol ar amrywiaeth o uchderau a dyfnderoedd a oedd ynghlwm wrth y gweithgareddau hyn yn amlwg yn golygu y byddai wedi bod yn ddefnyddiol, am y tro cyntaf ers blynyddoedd, cael fy anadlydd wrth law yn hytrach nai fod yn fy mag yn yr hostel, felly pan fyddwch yn meddwl am weithgareddau posibl, hyd yn oed os bydd fawr ddim siawns y byddwch yn eu gwneud yn y pen draw, maen werth ystyried ymlaen llaw beth y bydd ei angen arnoch (oherwydd y byddwch yn tueddu i wneud penderfyniadau yng ngwres y foment pan fyddwch chi i ffwrdd!). Yn gyffredinol, nid yw teithio ag asthma mor anodd hynny mewn gwirionedd; dylair rhestr isod eich helpu i baratoi i deithio dramor yn ddiogel. Gobeithio y cewch chi gymaint o hwyl ag y cefais inne ar fy mlwyddyn allan. Ben McNally (tri chyfandir, pum taith, saith mis i ffwrdd, 2,500 o luniau, ac yn l adref mewn un darn) Rhestr Wirio Cwestiynau Allweddol: A ydych chi wedi trefnu yswiriant teithio digonol? A ywn werth talu i hepgor y tl-dros-ben am ofal meddygol? A ywr yswiriant yn cwmpasur gweithgareddau cywir ar cyfnod cywir o amser y byddaf i ffwrdd? A ywn gyfreithlon cymryd eich meddyginiaethau yn y gwledydd y byddwch yn ymweld nhw? A oes gennych chir presgripsiynau, y labeli ar nodiadau meddyg priodol i ddangos beth ydynt pan fyddwch yn mynd drwy dollau a chael rhai newydd os bydd angen?

A oes gen ir math cywir o anadlydd ar gyfer y gweithgareddau rwyn debygol ou gwneud? A fydd hinsawdd/tirwedd y lle rwyn ymweld ag ef yn effeithio ar ba feddyginiaeth, a faint ohono, sydd ei angen arnaf? Os ydych yn ystyried teithio i fannau uchel, mae nyrsys asthma Asthma UK wedi llunior cyngor canlynol iw gadw mewn cof. Ni ddylai uchder fod yn broblem i bobl heini ac iach y mae eu hasthman cael ei reolin dda, cyhyd u bod yn cymryd eu hamser wrth fynd i fyny, yn cydnabod ac yn derbyn eu cyfyngiadau ac yn addasu eu meddyginiaeth lle y bo angen. Mae uchder yn dechrau effeithio ar bobl ar tua 1,500 2,000 metr o uchder, a bydd eu cyrff yn dechrau addasu ir newid mewn lefelau ocsigen. Wrth i chi fynd yn uwch, bydd y gwasgedd aer yn gostwng (bydd yr aer yn mynd yn deneuach), felly byddwch yn cymryd llai o ocsigen i mewn ich corff gyda phob anadl unigol. Mae angen ocsigen arnoch i roi egni i chi i symud ond mae hefyd yn hanfodol ich organau. Wrth ich corff gael llai o ocsigen, bydd yn ymaddasu. Byddwch yn anadlu yn gyflymach ac yn ddyfnach. Bydd hynnyn creu mwy o gelloedd coch yn eich gwaed er mwyn cludo mwy o ocsigen yn eich gwaed. Maer newidiadau hyn yn cymryd amser, sef y rheswm dros argymell eich bod yn cymryd eich amser i ddringo i fyny a bydd hynnyn eich cadw chin iach. Os byddwch yn dringo i fyny yn rhy gyflym efallai y bydd gennych risg o ddatblygu salwch uchder acwt. Cofiwch bennu nodau realistig i chi eich hun. Wrth deithio mewn mannau uchel, y peth pwysicaf yw gwneud yn siwr eich bod yn rheoli eich asthma yn dda cyn i chi deithio. Dyma rai awgrymiadau a allai fod yn ddefnyddiol. Gwnewch apwyntiad gydach meddyg neuch nyrs asthma ymhell ymlaen llaw er mwyn adolygu eich asthma a gofyn am gynllun gweithredu asthma os nad oes eisoes gennych chi un. Bydd yn cynnwys gwybodaeth am beth y dylech ei wneud os bydd eich asthma yn gwaethygu, pa gamau iw cymryd a beth iw wneud mewn argyfwng. Cariwch gerdyn Beth iw Wneud Mewl Pwl o Asthma Asthma UK gyda chi bob amser a chadwch eich anadlydd lliniaru wrth law bob amser. Gofynnwch ich meddyg ragnodi anadlydd sbr y gallwch fynd ag ef gyda chi rhag ofn. Gwnewch yn siwr bod eich meddyginiaethau wediu labelu r dogn a chadwch nhwn ddiogel ynghyd llythyr y meddyg. Trefnwch yswiriant teithio ac ystyriwch gofrestru r Swyddfa Dramor a Chymanwlad. Gwnewch yn siwr eich bod yn gwybod sut i gael gafael ar feddyg syn siarad Saesneg yn yr ardal rydych yn bwriadu ymweld hi a mynnwch gyngor meddygol unrhyw bryd y byddwch yn teimlon sl.

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Ffeithiau asthma
Cyflwr syn effeithio ar y llwybrau anadlu y tiwbiau bach syn cludo aer i mewn ac allan or ysgyfaint yw asthma. Pan ddaw rhywun ag asthma i gysylltiad rhywbeth syn effeithio ar ei lwybrau anadlu (sbardun asthma), maer cyhyrau o amgylch waliaur llwybrau anadlu yn tynhau syn achosi ir llwybrau anadlu gulhau ac mae leinin y llwybrau anadlun llidio ac yn dechrau chwyddo. Weithiau bydd mwcws gludiog neu fflem yn cronni, a all wneud y llwybrau anadlu hyd yn oed yn fwy cul. Maer adweithiau hyn yn achosi ir llwybrau anadlu gulhau a llidio syn ei gwneud yn anodd anadlu ac syn arwain at symptomau asthma. Symptomau arferol asthma yw peswch gwichian diffyg anadl tyndra yn y frest. Ni fydd pawb yn cael pob un or symptomau hyn. Mae rhai pobl yn eu cael o bryd iw gilydd; gall rhai pobl gael y symptomau hyn drwyr amser. Er nad oes modd cael gwared ar asthma, mae meddyginiaethau effeithiol ar gael i drin asthma syn galluogir rhan fwyaf o bobl iw reoli fel nad ywn amharu ar eu bywyd bob dydd. Gan mai cyflwr gydol oes yw asthma, maen bwysig eich bod yn cymryd eich meddyginiaeth asthma yn l y gofyn. Dylai eich meddyg neuch nyrs asthma esbonio sut i ddefnyddio eich anadlwyr yn briodol, fel eich bod yn cael y budd mwyaf o bob dos. Dysgwch am y ffordd gywir o ddefnyddio eich anadlwyr lliniaru ac ataliol a dysgwch fwy am steroidau, gwahanwyr a nebiwleiddwyr, ynghyd sgl-effeithiau posibl. Rheoli eich asthma Mae gormod o bobl ag asthma yn treulio amser yn yr ysbyty yn ddiangen: gellid osgoi 75% or derbyniadau ir ysbyty. Os yw eich asthma o dan reolaeth, rydych yn fwy tebygol o gael ansawdd bywyd gwell a gallu gwneud mwy or pethau rydych am eu gwneud. Gall tri chwestiwn eich helpu i benderfynu a yw eich symptomau o dan reolaeth:

Yn ystod y mis diwethaf: A ydych wedi cael trafferth cysgu oherwydd eich symptomau asthma (gan gynnwys peswch)? A ydych wedi bod yn cael eich symptomau asthma arferol yn ystod y dydd (peswch, gwichian, tyndra yn y frest neu ddiffyg anadl)? A yw eich asthma wedi amharu ar eich gweithgareddau arferol - ee gwaith ty, gwaith, ysgol ac ati? Os ydych wedi ateb ydw neu ydy i unrhyw un or cwestiynau uchod, maen bosibl bod modd rheoli eich asthman well. Ewch at eich meddyg neuch nyrs asthma i drafod sut y gallech wellach ffordd o reolich asthma neu ffoniwch ein Llinell Gyngor ar 0800 121 62 44. Rhai arwyddion nad ydych yn rheoli eich asthman dda Deffro yn y nos gyda pheswch, gwichian, diffyg anadl neu dyndra yn y frest Rhaid i chi gymryd amser i ffwrdd or gwaith oherwydd eich asthma Rydych yn cael trafferth anadlu, ac mae eich anadliadau yn rhai isel a byr Mae angen i chi ddefnyddio eich anadlydd lliniarun amlach Nid yw eich anadlydd lliniaru yn gweithio cystal Rhaid i chi ddefnyddio eich anadlydd lliniaru mwy na phob pedair awr Rydych yn teimlo fel na allwch barhau ch lefel arferol o weithgarwch neu ymarfer. Help er mwyn i chi reoli eich symptomau Gallwch reoli eich asthma drwy wybod pa feddyginiaethau iw cymryd, faint ohonynt a phryd iw cymryd. Mae hefyd yn bwysig osgoi pethau syn sbarduno eich asthma a gwybod beth iw wneud os bydd eich symptomaun gwaethygu. Dylair holl wybodaeth hon gael ei chofnodi ar gynllun gweithredu asthma personol, a dylaich meddyg neuch nyrs asthma ei gwblhau mewn trafodaeth chi. Mae Asthma UK yn cynhyrchu pecyn am ddim or enw Be in Control syn cynnwys cynllun gweithredu, dyddiadur priglif, cerdyn meddyginiaeth a cherdyn adolygu asthma. Awgrymiadau i reoli eich asthma. Llinell Gyngor Asthma UK Os hoffech siarad nyrs asthma arbenigol am reoli eich asthma, cysylltwch Llinell Gyngor Asthma UK. Gallwch ei ffonio ar 0800 121 62 44 (rhwng 9am a 5pm o ddydd Llun i ddydd Gwener). Darllenwch fwy am Linell Gyngor Asthma UK.

Asthma UK 2011. Registered charity in England 802364 and in Scotland SCO39322

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