Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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My asthma medications
With this daily routine:
- I should have few or no asthma symptoms during the day or night (wheeze, tight chest, cough)
- I should be able to do everything I normally do
- My best peak flow is:
My Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (MART) inhaler is called:
I need to take my MART inhaler every day, even when well
I take puff(s) in the morning and puff(s) at night
I use my MART inhaler as my reliever inhaler if I get asthma symptoms.
I take puff(s) of my MART inhaler if:
- I’m wheezing
- My chest feels tight
- I’m finding it hard to breathe
- I’m coughing
I can take a maximum of puffs a day (including my morning and night puffs).
Other medications I take daily:
My asthma is getting worse
My asthma is getting worse if I’m experiencing any of these symptoms:
- I have a cough, tight chest, wheeze or feel breathless
- My symptoms are wakening me at night
- My symptoms are affecting my day-to-day life
- My peak flow drops below:
When this happens:
Keep taking your regular medications as normal
I can take puff(s) of my MART inhaler as needed up to a maximum of puffs in a day (including my morning and night puffs)
No more than puffs of your MART inhaler should be taken on a single occasion.
URGENT! Contact your doctor or nurse if:
- Your symptoms are not improving despite extra reliever doses
- You are regularly needing extra doses of your MART inhaler most days for 2-3 days
- You are worried about your asthma
Other advice from your doctor/nurse:
When I have an asthma attack
I’m having an asthma attack if:
- My MART inhaler is not helping
- I can’t talk or walk easily
- I find it difficult to breathe
- My symptoms are getting worse quickly (cough, wheeze, tight chest, breathless)
- My peak flow drops below:
When this happens:
- Sit up straight – try to keep calm
- Take puff(s) of your MART inhaler every 1 to 3 minutes up to puffs
- If you feel worse at any point or you don’t feel better after puffs, call 999 for an ambulance
- If the ambulance has not arrived after 10 minutes and your symptoms are not improving, repeat step 2
- If your symptoms are no better after repeating step 2, and the ambulance has not arrived, contact 999 again immediately
After an asthma attack:
- If you dealt with this at home, see your doctor or nurse today
- If treated in hospital, see your doctor or nurse within 24 hours of being discharged
If you don’t have your MART inhaler with you and the only emergency inhaler available is salbutamol (blue), take 1 puff every 30 to 60 seconds up to a maximum of 10 puffs and call an ambulance.
My asthma triggers
Taking my asthma medicines every day mean I’m less likely to react to these triggers. Avoiding them if I can may also help.
My triggers are:
Inhaler Technique
Watch the inhaler videos for correct inhaler technique for your inhaler device:
My next asthma review
My next asthma review is due:
Paediatric Respiratory Team:
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Paediatrics service.
About this information
Service:
Paediatrics
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.