More than five million individuals in the UK receive regular treatment for chronic asthma. Many are unsure about when or how to use inhalers, which reduces the effectiveness of their medication and can be a health risk.
A leading pharmacy group has developed a service, designed to help patients use long-term prescription drugs correctly. They found patients either breathe in too fast or not strongly enough and many individuals don’t seem to be able correctly alter their inhaler technique. These patients are then advised to speak to their GP about finding an alternative asthma medication delivery system. A study at Belfast City Hospital revealed 35 per cent of asthmatic patients used half or less of their prescribed medication, and another 21 per cent used treatment more than prescribed.
Asthma control is reliant on adequate use of low dose inhaled steroids as preventer medication particularly during the winter months when viral infections are likely to exacerbate asthma attacks.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/diets/article-1229842/Millions-asthma-sufferers-misuse-medication.html
