New Tool to Control Allergies and Asthma

Thursday 8th April 2010

It is hoped that a new self assessment tool will help people in Britain to get asthma and allergies under control. Allergy UK, Asthma UK and Education for Health have pulled together to create a new questionnaire that patients will be able to pick up from doctors’ surgeries and pharmacies across the UK throughout April.

The easy to use yes no questionnaire has been designed to show whether people with asthma and allergic rhinitis are in control of their allergies or not. The survey will also prompt allergy sufferers to get their allergies under control by seeking medical advice from doctors, nurses, pharmacists and more.

Asthma affects over 5.4 million people in the UK alone and research shows that 78% of asthma sufferers also have allergic rhinitis a condition that is often triggered by indoor allergens. The disorder can often make asthma worse, though it is not fully understood why. Allergic rhinitis usually develops following a reaction to pet dander, dust mites and mould but the condition could even arise due to food allergies. The condition results in constant cold-like symptoms, headaches, earache and sleep disturbance and is very similar to hay fever.

Neil Churchill, a spokesman for Asthma UK, says “Eight out of ten people with asthma tell us that hay fever triggers their asthma so we know this can be a huge problem. We're therefore really pleased to be working in partnership on this questionnaire, which will hopefully more people discussing their symptoms with their doctor and taking control.”

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