Asthma
Most people with asthma lead normal lives with treatment, but the cold air can trigger asthma symptoms causing wheezing and shortness of breath. There are a few top tips you can advise to help keep symptoms under control:
- Staying indoors on very cold and windy days to avoid triggering symptoms.
- If going outdoors, wearing a scarf loosely over mouth and nose Taking steps to quitting smoking will help as this can significantly reduce how severe and frequent the symptoms are
- Use your preventer inhaler or tablets every day to keep symptoms under control
For prevention, promote the flu vaccination (available free on NHS for those living with asthma) and also having the pneumococcal vaccine. For advice and guidance please see our pages:
- Flu
- Pneumonia training module
- Pharmacy is an ideal location to offer the vaccination to these customers by offering a private pneumococcal vaccination service via a Patient Group Direction (PGD). More to support the delivery of a private service