Author Archives: Jackie Aim

Things you can change to make work easier

Group of female work colleagues chatting

If you are having physical difficulty coping with your job because of your asthma, you may be offered a referral to a specialist respiratory physiotherapist for breathing control techniques or chest clearance.

There may be things which you can change to make work easier.

If your work involves a lot of talking, try to take rests. Talking all day can be tiring if you are breathless and it makes your mouth and throat dry. Take drinks of water during the day to prevent dehydration.
Use a case on wheels or a trolley to carry items around at work and avoid heavy lifting.
If you have to move objects try to roll, push or slide rather than lift. Get someone to help. Ask about a health and safety course on safe moving and handling at work.
Break up strenuous tasks in to smaller jobs pacing yourself as you go.

Steroid tablets

Prednisolone tablets

Short courses of oral prednisolone tablets will be used to treat flare ups (exacerbations) of COPD along with antibiotics if needed, usually for 7 to 14 days. The prescribed dose of tablets are taken preferably in the morning, after breakfast. Side effects include fluid retention, indigestion, increased appetite and sleeplessness.

As part of a self management plan you can discuss with your healthcare professional whether you can have a supply of steroids and antibiotics at home to help self manage your condition. This is sometimes called “rescue medication” and is only used if you have a flare up or exacerbation.

During the test

Skin prick test showing reactions

The skin around the solutions may become itchy. It is important not to scratch. Reassure your child that the itching will only be temporary.

They may become red and swollen. This is inflammation.

There may be a raised bump called a wheal which is very like a nettle sting.

Once the test is over and measurement of any wheal’s have been taken, the area is washed dried and some antihistamine cream is applied to help calm the inflammation.

A dressing may be put on to allow the cream to soak into the skin and not be rubbed off.

You can remove the child’s dressings after 15-30 minutes.

What will happen if my child has a test?

Skin prick testing sites

A drop of allergen is placed on the skin and pressed through. If positive this looks like a wheal (bump) and flare (redness) at the puncture site after 10-15 minutes.

Lancets are used which are a very small aid to give a slight scratch to the surface of the skin to allow some of the solution under the skin.

This should not be painful and should not bleed.
These solution will be left on the skin for 10-15 minutes then measurements will be made and recorded.

The type of allergen used is decided after consultation with doctors or nurses and based on each child’s medical and symptom history. The doctor, nurse or physiologist will carry out the test.

Roughly between 6-15 allergens can be tested at one time (possibly more on a larger area of skin).

Skin allergy testing (skin prick testing)

Skin prick testing

Skin prick testing shows an allergic response to a specific allergen.

Skin prick tests are most commonly used but there are also blood tests and patch testing.

The skin prick test is simple, safe and quick with results within 15 minutes. It helps to identify allergens to help you manage your condition and avoid possible triggers.

A small amount of allergen is put just under the skin to produce a localised reaction. This looks like a wheal (bump) and flare (redness) at the puncture site.

It can be carried out on any age group and it is routinely carried out on the inner forearm.

You will may be asked to stop using your child’s antihistamine to allow for more accurate response.

Avoid using perfumes, soaps, body wash or cream on area which will be tested most likely forearms.

Does my child have an allergy?

Not all children who have asthma have an allergy.

No further allergy testing maybe necessary.

It’s not always useful.
It’s not always needed.

Another test for allergies is the skin prick test. Why may my child need a skin prick test? If your asthma team don’t know what your child’s triggers are, they may refer your child for skin prick testing.

If you child does need a skin prick test you may be asked to:

Avoid contact with the suspected cause of the allergy before the test.
Avoid using perfumed soap or other skin moisturisers on your child’s arm before the test.
If your child is taking an antihistamine you will be asked to stop this 24 to 48 hours before the test.

More strenuous exercise

As you improve your level of fitness you may want to think about other more strenuous exercises. Remember that a warm up is even more important when you are going to do any strenuous exercise. If exercising outdoors you may also have to consider the weather conditions either cold and windy weather or hot and dry conditions which can affect your asthma.

Suggestions for increased exercise:

Running – try joining a group or find a friend who can run with you.
Swimming or Aquarobics.
Tennis or Badminton.
Hill walking.
Gym classes – make sure you tell the instructor that you have asthma and that you may need to take rests.
Football, Hockey or Basketball.
Martial Arts – some classes include breathing control.
Golf.

Self management

If you are a competitive sports person please seek advice from the professional body that over sees your sport with regards to the use of asthma medication.

Choosing your exercise

Exercise need not be expensive. You can walk for free and this is a good activity to start with if you have not exercised for some time.

Some health boards and councils offer reduced sports memberships or supported sports activities for health conditions. Check with your healthcare team if there are any such schemes in your area.

Choose exercises which you can build up or down grade and which have short bursts and rest periods. In this way you can modify your exercise as you start to improve.

Do you prefer to exercise indoors or outdoors? On your own or with others? As you start any new exercise it can be useful to have someone to exercise with you for company and motivation.

Suggestions for moderate exercise:

Brisk walking.
Swimming or water based exercise.
Cycling – outdoors or indoors on a static bike.
Jogging.
Dancing.
Gardening.
Yoga.
Pilates.
Tai Chi.
Low level weight training.

During your exercise

It is normal to:

Breathe harder and faster but you should recover at rest.
Your heart rate will increase.
You will feel hot and sweaty.
You will look flushed and pink.

You must stop if:

You start to cough or wheeze.
You gasp for air.
Your chest feels tight.
You cannot talk or speak to someone.
You have chest or stomach pain.

If you use your inhaler you should feel an improvement quickly. If you do not get any relief of your symptoms after taking your inhaler do not return to your exercise until you have recovered. Use your inhalers as instructed on your asthma plan and tell someone you need help.

When you exercise

Wear loose , comfortable clothes. Layers are good as you can take off a layer as you start to warm up or add a layer as you cool down. Wear appropriate shoes or trainers.

Check the pollen count and pollution levels before you exercise outdoors. You can get daily information from the Met Office – air quality and Met Office – pollen count. If pollution or pollen levels are high avoid exercise outdoors.

Use warm up and cool down before your main exercise. By warming up your heart rate will gradually increase and you will breathe more quickly and deeply. The warm up involves stretching all the muscle groups and warming up your muscles by increasing blood flow. Marching on the spot for 2 to 3 minutes, knee lifts for 30 seconds, 10 knee bends to a crouching position, shoulder shrugs and heel stretches. See an example: NHS Choices – How to warm up before exercising.

Cool down is also important to allow your heart rate and breathing to return to your resting level.