Three in four people with asthma are at risk of ‘fatal attacks’

More than three quarters of asthma sufferers could be susceptible to having a fatal asthma attack because they incorrectly assume their asthma is under control, according to new research.

A survey conducted by Allergy UK and funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK, discovered this finding and many other things to raise alarm bells about the serious lung condition which afflicts around 5.4 million in Britain. Moreover, asthma costs the NHS an estimated £1 billion per year for the treatment and care for asthma patients.

464 participants with asthma were involved in the survey, and 78% who stated their asthma as being mild or moderate go through up to four blue reliever inhalers each month. “In reality they shouldn’t even need to use one per month if their disease is well controlled,” the charity says.

This finding backs up what Medical Specialists® Pharmacy said back in May, how a good proportion of asthmatics and not realising the massive importance of the brown preventer inhalers in building up a long-term resistance to triggers for asthma attacks.

Allergy UK adds that of the respondents who wrongly believe their condition is adequately under control, 16% have had six or more days off from work or school in the past 12 months because of their asthma.

The charity also discovered that up to 60% of asthma attacks are caused by allergens such as animal dander, house dust mites, pollen, mould and foods. Only 37% of those surveyed had been tested for allergies and the charity says that a drive to provide allergy tests could reduce the number of asthma attacks as patients would be more aware of their specific triggers.

Lindsey McManus, the Deputy CEO of Allergy UK, said: “Asthma is a killer, with three people dying of it every day in the UK. These shocking survey results reflect what we hear time and time again from the people that call our helpline. People ‘put up with’ their asthma symptoms and continue to use medication that isn’t treating the inflammation, rather than seeking help to get their asthma under control. They just don’t realise they are putting themselves in danger and could soon find themselves in A&E.”

More than one in five sufferers (22%) involved in the survey had not had an asthma review for at least a year it was discovered.

Ms McManus added: “Our biggest piece of advice is to talk to your doctor or asthma nurse. They will conduct a thorough asthma review and may refer you to a specialist who may conduct an allergy assessment and review your asthma management. This is the only way to ensure that the asthma crisis doesn’t worsen.”

Dr Monica Nordstrom, Respiratory Physician at Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust commented: “Doctors, nurses and patients themselves often fail to recognise whether asthma is moderate or severe, leading to life-threatening attacks that could have been avoided with appropriate diagnosis and management.

“There are three warning signs for patients to look out for; if you use more than one reliever inhaler a month; if you’ve been prescribed one or more courses of oral corticosteroids in the past 12 months or if you are consistently missing work or school because of your asthma – these can all be signs that your asthma may be more severe than you think and you should seek more help from your doctor or specialist nurse.”

Allergy Awareness Week begins as hayfever sufferers set to face brutal summer

As we are into the second day of Allergy Awareness Week – proudly supported by Medical Specialists™ Pharmacy – New research has shown that hayfever rates have soared to record levels and could get much worse in the future.

Britain is set to experience one of the most severe summers in recent years according to weather analysts, and charity Allergy UK who are running the awareness week that runs to 4 May, say that nearly a third of the population are now suffering with hayfever.

Hayfever symptoms are caused by an inhalation of pollen particles and by pollen getting into the eyes. Symptoms can flare-up from anywhere between early spring to late summer, depending on which particular pollen(s) you have an allergy to. The common pollens that prove problematic in early spring for hay fever suffers are those that emanate from trees such as the ash, oak, silver birch, and London plane.

Medical Specialists™ Pharmacy offer a wide range of medicines  to treat allergies such as hayfever, including Loratadine – a non-drowsy antihistamine which can provide relief from the symptoms of hay fever and Nasonex nasal spray – a nasal corticosteroid spray for the relief of congestion, sneezing, itching and a runny nose. Prevalin is another nasal spray that lines the inside of your nose and actually deactivates the pollen, and Alomide allergy eye drops that can bring relief from red, itchy, watery and puffy eyes if used regularly.

If all that isn’t enough, Medical Specialists™ now offer the fantastic NeilMed Sinus Rinse Starter Kit, which is suitable for all ages. This natural soothing saline wash can be used to alleviate many problems such as:

Nasal allergies & dryness.
Sinusitis, rhinitis.
Allergic asthma.
Post nasal drip.
Sinus pressure & nasal stuffiness.
Nasal symptoms from flu & cold.
Nasal irritation from occupational dust, fumes, animal dander, grass, pollen, smoke & house dust.
Nasal congestion.

Professor Jean Emberlin, scientific director for Allergy UK, commented: “We now have one of the highest rates [of hayfever] worldwide.” She says high use of antibiotics in children could be behind a higher risk of allergies in general, with as many as 38% of children now afflicted by hayfever in some areas of the UK.

Therefore, this week’s Allergy Awareness Week has arrived at a perfect time and aims to put a spotlight onto the difficulties faced by those who have allergies, what they can do to manage their symptoms, treatment options, with Allergy UK urging as many people as possible to participate and give their support. In the following weeks there will also be several fundraising events taking place.
The charity is now encouraging people to assess their medication prior to the grass pollen season beginning at the start of summer.

Prof Ember in said: “Early ­indications are that it could be severe. This year the mild winter and warm spring resulted in the birch pollen season starting about four weeks ­earlier than in 2013.
“Birch ­pollen counts increased ­rapidly in the last week of March throughout the South and Midlands and the season spread northwards quickly.

“About 25 per cent of ­sufferers are allergic to birch pollen and this year has been a severe one for them.

“The oak pollen ­season – which affects one in five sufferers – also started earlier this year.

“The grass pollen season – which affects about 95 per cent of hayfever sufferers – will start in the last week of May in the South with a fairly long lag time of a few weeks to the North.

“Due to the warm spring, the start will be gradual rather than having a sudden increase in grass pollen counts.

Maureen Jenkins, director of ­clinical services at Allergy UK, added: “We are urging people to check whether they are using their medication correctly rather than just soldiering on and ­prolonging their suffering. If symptoms aren’t improving with treatment, it’s so important to get medical advice to control this debilitating condition, which is also associated with the development of asthma.”

Asthma, rhinitis and eczema symptoms all ignited by deodorant sprays

The lingering strong smell of frequent deodorant use amongst teenagers is so common that it has led to teachers taking to online forums to share their complaints about having to teach through the waft of Lynx on a daily basis.

Largely down to their clever marketing campaigns, such as the slogan “Get the look that gets the girl” and many adverts depicting how their sprays can have a major impact with the opposite sex,  Lynx has become the market leader and has a staggering eight million users in just the UK alone.

In fact it is believed that around half of children are using deodorant by the age of 11, with the fear of body odour making them spray themselves far too excessively.

However, this excessive use has led to worry from health experts that over-using deodorant can result in increased inhalation of dangerous aerosol chemicals. This can then cause health problems such as asthma, allergic skin reactions and breathing difficulties.

Maureen Jenkins, director of clinical services at Allergy UK, commented: “Around one in three adults in the UK have some form of allergic disease — asthma, rhinitis or eczema — and their symptoms are easily aggravated by perfumed products and exacerbated by aerosol chemicals. Even people without allergies can be sensitive to chemicals found in cleaning products or toiletries, experiencing skin reactions, breathing difficulties, nausea or headaches. The reactions are made worse when it is an aerosol as the fine mist is easily inhaled.”

Although rare, inhaling aerosols may over time trigger heart problems which could prove fatal.
The Capewell family from Manchester tragically found this out in 1998 when 16-year-old Jonathan Capewell died of a heart attack in the bedroom of his home in Oldham, Greater Manchester. Jonathan’s 17-year-old sister, Natalie, discovered her brother lay motionless on the floor of his bedroom and raised the alarm.

His father, Keith, 58, recollects: “When we arrived at the hospital, they were still trying to revive him. But about ten minutes later they said he was gone. We were shocked. There had been no warning. They asked if he had a heart condition but there was nothing like that. He was a perfectly normal, healthy boy.”

At the time, Keith spoke about the fact his son would cover his entire body with deodorant at least twice a day and a post-mortem revealed Jonathan had ten times the lethal dosage of butane and propane within his blood. Both are used as aerosol propellants and had built up following several months of high deodorant use.

Jonathan Clague, a consultant heart specialist at the Royal Brompton Hospital, described how aerosol chemicals can cause death: “The main cause of death is usually suffocation, known as hypoxia. If oxygen is not being breathed in and something else is inhaled, such as chemicals, then suffocation occurs and the heart stops.”

The Capewells have been calling for more action to be taken to increase awareness of dangers associated with aerosol deodorants.

Keith says: “Our youngest son Nathan was four when Jonathan died and as soon as he was old enough to use deodorant we drummed into him that he had to open the windows and only use short bursts. He’s 20 now and he does that to this day. I’d like to see warnings on the front of the can, like there are for cigarettes and alcohol. Because we know first-hand that deodorants can be just as fatal.”