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Living with my asthma

This page is specifically for patients who have been prescribed Relvar Ellipta. If you are not a patient please return to the public website.

What is asthma?

Asthma is a condition that affects the airways - the small tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs.

When a person with asthma comes into contact with something that irritates their airways (an asthma trigger), the muscles around the walls of the airways tighten so that the airways become narrower and the lining of the airways becomes inflamed and starts to swell. Sometimes, sticky mucus or phlegm builds up, which can further narrow the airways. These reactions cause the airways to become narrower and irritated - making it difficult to breathe and leading to symptoms of asthma. 1

Monitoring my asthma

It is common for people to have accepted that symptoms and lifestyle limitations are normal with asthma – but with the right treatment, good control is possible for most people. Because asthma symptoms vary over time, you should take measures to monitor how well you’re doing.

The Asthma Control Test can be used at least once a month to monitor how well your asthma is controlled. It takes less than a minute to complete as there are only five questions to answer and you'll receive a score out of 25.
Scoring 20+ = your asthma control is likely to be good at the moment
Scoring less than 20 = asthma is affecting your life more than it should
Scoring 15 or less = you may be at risk of an asthma attack and you should see your doctor or nurse.
2

What to do if you feel breathless or wheezy 2

If you get these symptoms you must use a quick-acting reliever inhaler (such as salbutamol). Please remember that Relvar Ellipta should not be used to relieve a sudden attack of breathlessness or wheezing.
If you feel you are getting breathless or wheezy more often than normal, or if you are using your quick-acting inhaler more than usual, see your doctor.

References:

  1. www.asthma.ie/get-help/learn-about-asthma/asthma-basics/asthma-basics. Last accessed: September 2023
  2. https://www.asthmacontroltest.com/ Last accessed: September 2023

Relvar and Ellipta are registered trademarks of the GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies