Asthma and the link to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Asthma sufferers are thought to be at an increased risk of being more severely affected by coronavirus (COVID-19). COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a coronavirus. That means it can affect your lungs, throat, and nose.

For people who have asthma, infection with the virus could lead to an asthma attack, pneumonia, or other serious lung disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) listed asthma, along with diabetes and heart disease, as a condition that makes someone “more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.

In a bid to help those with the respiratory condition, the NHS has now released its first official guidelines on what asthmatics should be doing during the pandemic.

Tips for asthma sufferers isolating during COVID-19 pandemic.

• Sufferers should be taking their preventer inhaler every day as prescribed and keeping their reliever inhaler with them all the time so they can use it if their symptoms get worse.
• Those with asthma should regularly clean equipment such as face masks and mouth pieces, and that they should not share their inhalers and devices with anyone else.
• The guidelines state asthma sufferers should only attend essential appointments alone, if possible, to minimise the risk of infection.
• Avoid unnecessary interactions with other people and unnecessary travel, especially on public transport.
• Where possible, work from home.

The latest NHS guidelines and information about Coronavirus, can be found at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/    

Asthma UK also has the latest advice for those living with the condition: https://www.asthma.org.uk/coronavirus/