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Abysmal testing for lung conditions in the UK

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Given 20% of the UK population will suffer a long condition in their lifetime (according to Asthma and Lung UK), it is a huge shame that there is a lack of simple tests at GP surgeries for lung conditions. Every breath we take is a gift of life, yet for those suffering from lung conditions, even the simplest of breaths can be a challenge. Asthma and Lung UK has recently highlighted a concerning issue plaguing the UK's healthcare system—a lack of straightforward tests that hinder general practitioners (GPs) from making precise diagnoses for common lung conditions. This situation could have dire consequences for both patients and the NHS, particularly as winter approaches and respiratory illnesses become more prevalent. The silent struggle According to the Asthma and Lung UK charity, one in five people is affected by a lung condition at some point in their lives. These conditions encompass asthma, as well as various forms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emp

Urgent call for government action, 'Reduce air pollution around schools'!

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 There are calls to reduce traffic levels around schools in the UK to help children struggling with respiratory conditions like asthma. Living streets, a UK charity that says its big ambition is that every child than can, walks to school, is recommending that traffic levels around schools should not be allowed to return to pre-covid levels. School children with asthma and respiratory conditions are said to be at increased risk of breathing difficulties and need to use their inhalers more often when their schools are located close to busy roads. A BBC reporter, Elaine Dunkley visited a UK school in an area with high levels of air pollutions and spoke to children struggling with their asthma there: BBC Report AsthmApp is a revolutionary App that helps parents and carers manage and monitor their children and ward's asthma condition. Click here to download AsthmApp from Google playstore.

Who is an AsthmApp Buddy?

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 The newly launched Asthma monitoring app, AsthmApp , has a Buddy system which is a key differentiator compared to other health Apps. Here is a demo of this great app, AsthmApp It is recognised that people that suffer from Asthma often need some bit of help, from the occasional encouragement to take precautions depending on inclement weather, to being there to call for help in emergency situations.  So far, no other asthma monitoring app has provided what AsthmApp now provides - a Buddy, handy to help with emergencies! This is such a welcome development that addresses an issue that many people with asthma have struggled with for years. Now with AsthmApp, users can identify close contacts that they want the app to call automatically in  an emergency. This does not replace the need for users to call emergency services themselves. Rather it is an additional help that can rouse close contacts who have been registered as Buddies on the AsthmApp system. A Buddy is not just a close friend. A

Getting the Covid-19 vaccine

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It was a good day for the whole world when it was announced that the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine were ready for a public roll out! And much kudos to Boris Johnson and every government official that got their sleeves rolled up and supported the drive to achieve a sooner rather than later approval date for the vaccine. The United Kingdom became the first country in the whole world to lead the way not only with supporting the Oxford University vaccine development but also with fast tracking the review and approval process for the Pfizer vaccine which was approved for public use early December 2020. We are all awaiting the final tests and approval for the Oxford vaccine which is said to have a higher efficacy across all age groups, is said to be ten times cheaper, and easier to transport and store compared to the Pfizer vaccine. Next step Please wait to be contacted if you have asthma and would like to receive the vaccine. The government has a rollout plan for the whole of UK and different g

Benefits of taking a PEF reading

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Peak Expiratory flow (PEF) measurements are simply a measurement of how quickly one can blow air out of the lungs using a simple flow meter. These hand-held flow meters measure air breathed out in litres per minute (l/min) with the measured value displayed on the side of the PEF meter. Expectations of how much air you can blow using the meter varies based on age, height and gender . Peak expiratory flow measurements can sometimes be used to diagnose quickly if someone is having an asthma attack. If you are not breathing in air well into the lungs, there is no way you will be able to breathe a big volume of air out into the meter. Imagine your usual PEF reading is around the 500 mark. Recording, say a 300 reading, when the asthmatic patient is feeling unwell is a sure sign that the asthma condition could be flaring up and the airways are getting narrow. The user may need to ask for help at this time. Apart from helping to determine if an asthma attack is taking place, PEF readings

Inhaler types and their uses

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Depending on where you look, there are said to be two or three major types of asthma inhalers.  Some health professional insist there are two types…and even those that agree that there are two main types disagree on the categorisation! Some say that the two types of inhalers are – Preventer inhalers and Emergency inhalers.  Others say the two main types of inhalers are: Metered dose  inhalers (MDIs) and Dry powder inhalers. And yet, some other health professionals suggest that there are three types (or classes) of inhalers – preventer inhalers, emergency inhalers and combination inhalers! All in all, it’s safe to say, there are so many types of inhalers available to treat your asthma condition and you should check out what your doctors have prescribed and ask questions if you don’t understand why you have been prescribed the particular type of inhalers you have. We tried our best to see if we could summarise the types of inhalers and eventually decided to go with these definition

What is an asthma incident?

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An asthma attack happens when the asthmatic person has bouts of wheezing, coughing, daytime fatigue, sleeplessness or shortness of breath.                                                © EAACI on Twitter: The state of asthma epidemiology Sometimes, this asthma bout passes with the use of an 'emergency' inhaler, and one is not sure if it was a 'full blown; asthma attack or not. Whether it is recognised as an asthma attack or simply an asthma incident, it is recommended that one makes a note of exactly what happens, situation preceding the happening, and how long it occurred for, for further review by health professionals.   Is it easy to recognise an incident happening? Obviously for many people, they recognise when they are getting breathless or feeling faint. And when such happens, it is easier to ask for or get help. The worrying thing is, for many asthmatics, it is difficult to determine how bad the situation is and when the trigger point is reached when they have t