Some may not realise that the inhaler that they use could be putting them at an increased risk of a life-threatening asthma attack. Research by leading charity Asthma + Lung UK has found that as many as one in five people with the condition may be unknowingly using the wrong inhaler.
There are two types of inhaler, say the charity, a reliever inhaler which reduces symptoms and a preventer, which should be used on a daily basis to keep down inflammation and swelling in the airways. The research found that too many people are relying on their reliever inhaler rather than using the preventer on a daily basis.
They say that using a reliever inhaler could put sufferers at an increased risk of hospitalisation - and even death - as their asthma is less likely to be under control. This comes as 75,000 people are hospitalised for asthma every year, with four dying from the condition annually.
