Did you know?................
• Asthma affects an average of 10% of any population
group (that’s 20 million Indonesians!) one in four children,
one in seven teenagers and one in ten adults.
• Up to 20% of people with asthma may have an asthma
attack after taking aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs), used to treat pain, muscle and joint inflammation,
colds or flu. The attack may be preceded by a runny nose or
hay fever-like symptoms, sneezing and flushing of the face.
The attack can be very severe and life threatening.
What pain relievers may affect asthma?
Aspirin and NSAIDs are safe for the majority of people with
asthma. However, if you have aspirin-induced asthma, you must
avoid aspirin and NSAIDs. Some people require low-dose aspirin
for heart conditions or NSAIDs for the treatment of arthritis.
If you have aspirin-induced asthma, desensitization to aspirin
is possible. This must only be done under the supervision
of a specialist with experience of the procedure.If you are
unsure if a particular medicine might trigger your asthma,
ask your GP or pharmacist before you take it.
What pain relievers are safe to take?
Medicines containing paracetamol and ibuprofen (an NSAID)
are generally safe for people with asthma, including children.
However, if you have aspirin-induced asthma, you must consult
your health care professional about pain relief. (The
newer prescription NSAIDs such as Celebrex appear less likely
to cause problems in people with aspirin-induced asthma).
Non-prescription pain relievers and asthma
There are a number of pain relievers, such as aspirin and
some NSAIDs, which you can buy from your local pharmacy or
supermarket without a prescription. Some of these products
can also be used for the treatment of colds and flu. Always
ask your doctor and pharmacist and check the ingredients to
determine whether these products are likely to trigger your
asthma.
There are many over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers containing
aspirin or NSAID medications. Always read the labels for the
active ingredients and make yourselves familiar with the generic
names for NSAID (eg Panadol is Paracetamol, Ponstan is Mefenemic
Acid, Nurofen is Ibuprofen etc etc)
Be aware that some topical products (e.g. creams or gels you
apply to your skin or gums) are NSAIDs or contain salicylates.
Salicylates are related to aspirin, and may have similar effects.
Some examples pf these would be Voltaren gel, Feldene gel,
Counter Pain, Dencorub, and many other of the “Sports
Rubs” that are available. Some teething or dental gels
contain salicylates, e.g. Bonjela, Herron Baby Teething Gel,
Ora-Sed Jel, Seda-gel and SM33. These products should be used
with caution by people who react to aspirin.
Some herbal products (such as feverfew or willow bark extracts)
also contain salicylates, so always check the label first.
Whenever consulting anyone about herbal products, make sure
you tell them you have asthma. If you are unsure if
a product contains salicylates, try to find an alternative,
or consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking the product.
Above all always make sure you have a current Asthma Action
Plan – if you don’t talk, to your health consultant.
Asthma can strike at any time and without warning. After hours
assistance in the case of an attack is not always easy to
fund, and many expatriates live in remote areas with no assistance
at all so BE PREPARED.
“Kim Patra is a qualified Registered Nurse and Midwife
that has been living and working in Bali for almost twenty
years. She now runs her own private practice and medical referral
service from her Kuta office. Kim is happy to discuss any
health concerns with you and she may be contacted via e-mail
at info@chcbali.com”.
