While we all know that asthmatics who have sereve asthma are clinically extremely vulnerable to cornavirus.
However those of us who have well controlled asthma (take preventive inhaler and have the flu jab) are listed as clinically vulnerable.
For myself my asthma has been very well controlled for over a year now. I use a high dose combination inhaler (fostair nexthaler 200/6 2 puffs twice a day and monkelaust. )
What is the risk when if asthmatics catch this?
Hi
I did a post about this a while back which may help.
healthunlocked.com/asthmauk...
Thankyou for that information. From what you have shared with me I can see now that having well-controlled asthma doesn't make you any higher risk than any other healthy individual.
*probably 😅. Hopefully AUK will have something new to tell everyone soon, and to reassure either way!
I sure asthma uk will keep us updated. I hope my post and your answers have reassured people.
OK, if you want reassuring answers in preparation for bad news from JCVI, here's the good news:
1) In late March last year the NHS clarified that non-severe asthmatics were "clinically vulnerable" but not "clinically extremely vulnerable", and all the evidence points to that being the right decision: moderate asthmatics are not extremely vulnerable.
The issue now with the JCVI priority list is that we're being grouped with completely healthy under-50s, i.e. the lowest-risk group of adults there is. So when we question that decision, it's a quesion of our risk being classed as "very low" versus "not quite that low", rather than "high" versus "extremely high". So in the coming weeks as moderate asthmatics protest against the JCVI criteria, when we say there is still some evidence of some extra risk, please don't panic.
2) The fact that any increase in risk is being confounded by other factors means it's not an overwhelmingly huge risk: e.g. we can't rule out an asthmatic 40-year-old being at somewhat greater risk than a non-asthmatic 40-year-old, but we can be sure by this point that they're at lower risk than a non-asthmatic 80-year-old.
3) If the risk statistics are being artificially lowered by the extra care we've all been taking*, that means the extra care we're taking is working! Yes we're worried what will happen in the spring when restrictions are eased, but at least by that point the weather should be warmer so a lot of us would be going into it from a better starting point breathing-wise, and the pressures on hospitals will have reduced so there will be beds, oxygen etc available for any of us who do end up needing it. So just keep on doing what you're doing to stay safe in the meantime.
4) If we are left unvaccinated in the Spring when restrictions are lifted, it might feel like all our precautions* this far have been for nothing when we have to catch it in the end anyway, but treatments are improving all the time too, so we're still doing the right thing by being as careful as we can for as long as we can. Even if we can't avoid covid until they vaccinate our age groups, each time we avoid it until another positive clinical trial result is announced that means our efforts haven't been for nothing.
5) The long covid risk is not such good news, but long covid still means surviving which is infinitely better than the alternative.
*Of course, when I talk about the extra efforts of CV people, I know that the shielding group have had to do so much more, and whatever happens with group 6, I really hope everywhere gets through group 4 soon!
That's not really clear at the moment. Certainly we're lower risk than severe/CEV asthmatics, and perhaps lower risk than first feared. But we've been on the Clinically Vulnerable list since March so any data since then are confounded by the extra measures we've been taking to reduce our risk of catching it in the first place. Some data sets show higher rates of ICU admission once hospitalised, some show similar rates of escalation and death despite being younger (so worse risks for our age), but all the data come with high levels of uncertainty. There is, however, stronger evidence of higher rates of long Covid.
So don't panic if you do get it, it's by no means a death sentence for moderate asthmatics, but we're not being unreasonable in hoping for a correction to JCVI group 6 especially as every other group from the CV list seems to have been copied straight across.
The greatest risk factors in corona related fatality are old age and obesity . Asthma does not seem to be a factor .
So if you have asthma that often needs oral steroids and sometimes trips to A&E for chest infections which sometimes get out of control. The last time four years ago to A&E but controlled enough on high steroid inhalers at other times. Because hospital admission outside the 12 month qualifying criteria to be classed as CEV our asthma will not be a factor?
Another good question. I doubt every study comparing risks for severe and non-severe uses the same severity cut off as JCVI.
I agree I don't think it can be so cut and dried as this especially for people like Louluo9000. I too had some rocky years 2/3 years ago when my asthma wasn't good. Not as bad as Louluo9000 but still lots of trips to A&E and under consultant care.
I am so well controlled now I have kind of forgotten what it was like when my asthma was bad.
I hope and prayer you all stay safe and well during this pandemic.
We are also told Covid19 is worse on the lungs than ordinary flu, and we need a flu jab to protect us more than the ordinary public. So logic and the science would deem we should be prioritised.
I have moderate asthma, now well controlled. Fostair 200 daily, montelukast and antihistamine in the day. I also take seratine. Anxiety/allergies/dust/dander trigger my asthma. I've been well for 6 months due to this medication combination. Before this, I needed regular steroids; asthma affected my life badly. Like a lot of moderate asthmatics I was terrified of getting Covid.
Three weeks ago I ordered a Covid test as my chest was feeling a little tight one afternoon. By the time it arrived I felt good. I nearly didn't send it off... When the email notified me I was positive I was shocked and very worried about what was to come. (I had my minor tight chest on the Tuesday afternoon and had the positive result late on Saturday night). I stayed at home during that period.
However, apart from feeling a little tired I was 'A Symptomatic'. I am 45 and of slim build. I am beyond relieved and thankful.
I think my body was able to weather Covid for a variety of reasons: well controlled asthma, possibly the antihistamine/steriod components of my meds and I am not overweight or elderly. I guess luck and genes played a part. Covid is so random.
I'm sharing my story as having covid with asthma is not inevitably bad. It may be for one and not another. Eat as healthy as you can and keep taking your meds. If one isn't working try another. It took me a year to get my medication sorted and it's changed my life.
Gosh thanks for posting your experience love life00 its a relief to hear good news stories about being asthmatic and having covid, as it had seemed like it would be a death sentence before . . .
Good morning lovelife00 thankyou for your post. I am like you take the same inhaler etc. I have no idea if I had cornavirus expect in September when I did a test as part of imperial college study. That was negative. If I have had it it must be Aschemtic case. As like you my asthma is very well controlled and I thank God for the NHS.
I haven't ask mine. Moderate asthmatic arent now in group 4 . Asthma uk are pushing hard to find out why it's changed. We are considered to be CV by the nhs but JVIC has removed us from the green book. This is what is used to determined what group people are in e.g. 4 for over 70's and CEV ie sereve asthma.
We all need to be patient and wait to see what happens.
What medication are you on? Are you considered to be at high risk because your asthma is not controlled? I am trying to get a picture of why?
My asthma was well controlled until the family and I contracted covid March 2020. The rest of the family had a fairly mild range of symptoms but for me personally it has been horrendous. Took 4 months to even partially recover and then sadly we all contracted another strain in September 2020. (I should note we are shielding a family member - both times covid was contracted from healthcare settings). The September infection again hit me very hard, again I was very ill and I still am. My asthma is now a major issue and uncontrolled, my current gp practice & the practice asthma nurse have never been of much use historically & I simply don’t have the breath or energy to fight with them.... so it’s still uncontrolled. I know I need to demand more help urgently but I keep thinking I’ll deal with them tomorrow.... and I still can’t face / cope with the effort and the consequences for my breathing that this interaction will demand, for what experience tells me will be zero to little interest or action.My point is that how Covid may affect you personally is massively unpredictable, access to decent services as we all know is a lottery at the best of times. Like many of us I’ve had a range of experiences from different services over trying to negotiate stabilising my asthma. Covid has taken a terrible toll on my lungs, is it worse because I’m asthmatic? Who knows. Is this governments wider public health response adequate? Our death toll in the UK would suggest not....
Even with a vaccine.... the entire range of public health precautions will still be of vital importance, vaccination is just one element of any public health strategy, it may strengthen your personal immune response but how anyone will fare when they experience a covid infection is completely unpredictable.
We all need to continue to act as best we can as individuals to avoid this infection and look after own health and that of the wider community.
Taking my own advice next.... Ill contact my gp. Here’s hoping for a positive outcome
Is there another GP surgery you can move to? Not having to battle all the time would at least remove one element from your nightmare.
The Asthma UK/BLF post covid hub might be able to help (0300 2225942 Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm). The nurses obviously know asthma as well so might be good to talk to.
I know of people who have had Covid who have been referred to respiratory physios as a large part of post covid breathing issues respond well to that but not to asthma medications. In case you're interested, clutching at straws or somewhere in between, this site is good for breathing exercises (recommended to me by a respiratory physio): lifeguidehealth.org/player/...
Haze/Fog Machines at Concerts and Theatres
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