When was the last time you had a check-up?
Busy full-time workers with asthma are increasing their risk of an attack by not controlling their condition properly, according to new research released today.
Lloydspharmacy contacted over 1,000 people with asthma and found that, of those working full time, 38 per cent admitted to not having an asthma check-up as regularly as they should do and a third identified stress as one of the main triggers for their attacks, particularly women.
Compounding the issue, a quarter said their employer was not supportive about allowing them time off for asthma appointments.
Asthma affects around 5.4 million adults in the UK and these findings are a stark reminder of how serious this condition is – 31 per cent of those surveyed said they have had to visit A&E as a result of their asthma.
And there is also a cost to the economy, with more than one in seven saying that had taken three days or more off work in the last year as a direct result of their asthma.
The research also showed that among full-time workers:
- 50% of women - and 43% of men - admitted to having used an out-of-date inhaler citing ‘lack of time to renew their prescription’ as a key reason for this
- 37% had used an inhaler prescribed to someone else.
To enable people with asthma to manage their condition more conveniently, the Lloydspharmacy Online Doctor has launched a new asthma treatment service that allows people to renew their inhaler prescription, without having to visit their GP.
Dr Christina Hennessy, GP and asthma advisor at Lloydspharmacy’s Online Doctor said: “It’s understandable how managing your asthma can be pushed to the bottom of your priority list when you have a hectic work schedule. However we were alarmed to see just how many people admitted to skipping medical appointments, using out-of-date inhalers or simply using someone else’s inhaler. Taking these sorts of risks increases your chance of having a serious asthma attack.
“There is good evidence to show that with regular, structured reviews with a healthcare professional, your asthma can be better controlled. Our online service is designed to fit around your life providing convenient access to doctors and medication, so making it easier to take control of your asthma.”