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Ahead of World Asthma Day (Tuesday 7 May), people in the Black Country are being reminded of the signs and symptoms of asthma.
World Asthma Day is organised by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), which aims to improve asthma awareness and care. This year’s theme is ‘Asthma Education Empowers’ and focuses on the importance of empowering people with asthma with the appropriate education to manage their condition and to recognise when to seek medical help.
Asthma is a common lung condition that causes breathing difficulties. It affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood, although it can also develop for the first time in adults.
The main symptoms are a whistling or wheezing sound when breathing, a feeling of breathlessness, a tight chest and coughing. The symptoms tend to vary and can sometimes get worse - this is commonly known as an asthma attack.
The NHS has created a video of a local GP sharing important tips of how to recognise an asthma attack, particularly in children, which can be viewed on YouTube.
Dr Atul Gulati, Clinical Director Respiratory Medicine at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, said: “World Asthma Day provides the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of asthma including the signs and symptoms to look out for and the importance of seeking help.
“Everyone’s asthma is different, and people may have several triggers. Some of the most common triggers include having a cold or flu, exposure to air pollution, tobacco smoke, house dust mites, animal fur, or grass and tree pollen.
“Whilst the severity of symptoms varies from person to person, asthma is a serious condition so it’s really important that you don’t ignore symptoms and seek medical advice straight away if you’re concerned.”
To help raise awareness of asthma management in children, the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) has also launched its Asthma Friendly Schools initiative which encourages all schools in the Black Country to welcome children with asthma and support them to proactively manage their asthma, both at home and school, so they don’t miss out.
Lisa Cummings, Queens Nurse and Asthma Practitioner in the Children and Young People’s Asthma Team for the NHS Black Country ICB, said: “Asthma is a common but very serious, and sometimes life-threatening, medical condition which affects one in 11 children in the UK.
“We know that asthma that is poorly controlled can not only impact physical health but also psychological health and educational attainment, and so our aim is to ensure that every child with asthma can go to school and fully participate in all elements of school life.
“Our Asthma Friendly School programme recognises the important role that schools play in the health and wellbeing of children, which is why we are encouraging all local schools in the Black Country to take part. The initiative aims to improve the care of pupils with asthma by raising awareness through information, training and support for school staff, as well as pupils, parents and carers.”
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This May Measure Month (MMM), eligible people in the Black Country are being reminded to visit their local pharmacy for a blood pressure check.
Led by the International Society of Hypertension, MMM is an annual global screening campaign which aims to educate people on the importance of having their blood pressure checked regularly, as raised blood pressure is the number one cause of preventable death worldwide.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a serious condition where your heart is made to consistently work harder to pump blood around your body.
It often has no symptoms and can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially lifethreatening conditions such as heart disease, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease and dementia.
People who might be more at risk of having high blood pressure include those who:
• are overweight
• do not do enough exercise
• drink too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks)
• smoke
• have a lot of stress
• eat too much salt and not enough fruit or vegetables
• are over 65 years old
• are of Black African or Black Caribbean descent.
All adults over 40 years old are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every five years.
In the Black Country it is estimated there are around 75,000 people with undiagnosed hypertension and so the NHS is reminding people aged 40 and over who haven’t had a blood pressure check in the last six months to come forward.
Dr Sunil Nadar, Clinical Lead Cardiologist at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and MMM National Lead for England, said: “High blood pressure rarely has any symptoms which is why it is called the ‘silent killer’. It can significantly raise your risk of a life-threatening heart attack, heart failure, or stroke, and the only way to know you have the condition is to get your blood pressure measured.
“High blood pressure can often be prevented or reduced by eating healthily (especially reducing salt in the diet), maintaining a healthy weight, taking regular exercise, drinking alcohol in moderation and not smoking. Some people with high blood pressure will also need to take one or more medicines to stop their blood pressure getting too high – what works best is different for each person.
“Checking your blood pressure is quick, simple and painless, and it could save your life. So, if you don’t know what your blood pressure is, May is the time to find out.” Selected community pharmacies across the Black Country offer a free blood pressure check service for people aged 40 and over with no previous history of high blood pressure. You can find a pharmacy that offers free blood pressure checks near you on the NHS website.
Stephen Noble, local pharmacist and Chief Officer of the Community Pharmacy Dudley, said: “May Measure Month is a great opportunity for raise awareness of high blood pressure and the importance of having a blood pressure check.
“If you’re aged 40 and over and you’re not already being monitored by a doctor, you can quickly and easily get your blood pressure checked by going into your local pharmacy. It’s a free, simple and non-invasive test, conducted in privacy, and you don’t need to book in advance.
“Depending on the result, the pharmacist might give you advice to support healthy living, give you a blood pressure monitor to take home with you and return later, or advise you to see a GP. Your blood pressure readings are also sent to your GP so your health records can be updated.” -
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People in the Black Country are being reminded to order any repeat prescriptions they may need ahead of the spring bank holiday (Monday 27 May).
GP practices and pharmacies will have limited opening hours over the bank holiday weekend, making it more challenging for people to access medicines at short notice and may lead to a delay in getting your medication.
Every bank holiday, NHS 111 sees an increase in people getting in touch about repeat prescriptions. Waiting and using emergency or urgent services over the spring bank holiday puts added pressure on already busy services.
To avoid this and to ensure health is not put at any unnecessary risk, people are being asked to submit any repeat prescriptions that are due for renewal by Friday 17 May to make sure there is enough time for them to be processed and dispensed.
Dr Ananta Dave, Chief Medical Officer for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “The time leading up to a bank holiday weekend can be busy for the NHS. By ordering medicines as soon as possible, it allows enough time for it to be processed and dispensed and helps avoid a last-minute rush. “If you take any medicine on a regular basis to help manage a long-term condition such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or asthma, now is the time to check that you have enough medication left to last you over the upcoming spring bank holiday. “Keeping your medicine cabinets stocked, knowing when your GP practice is open, and planning for repeat prescriptions that are due will ensure you can make the most of the long weekend. “The easiest way to order repeat prescriptions is via the NHS App or through your GP practice website. If you do not have access to GP online services, you can phone your GP practice to order prescriptions.”
Most repeat medication requests can be made online, via local practice websites or through the NHS App. People who do not use the internet can approach their practice to access their prescriptions.
If people feel unwell over the bank holiday weekend, but it’s not life threatening, they can contact NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111.
NHS 111 can help direct people to the most appropriate local health service if they aren’t sure where to go – this could include an out of hours GP, a pharmacy, a local NHS walk-in centre, ora hospital accident & emergency (A&E) department.
Urgent and emergency care services will also be open as normal over the long weekend. People should only call 999 or attend A&E services in the event of an emergency.