Summary
This guide includes an overview on asthma, its diagnostics and monitoring, medical treatment and self-care. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes. It affects one in ten adults in Finland. The underlying factors for developing asthma are individual and the disease can manifest at any age. Smoking doubles the risk of developing asthma, and in smokers, asthma is frequently co-occurring with COPD. Asthma is a common but underdiagnosed condition among the elderly. Obesity and especially abdominal obesity increases the risk of developing asthma. Untreated sleep apnoea increases the risk of asthma symptoms at night.
The goal of medical asthma treatment, managed by a physician or (e.g. in the case of severe refractory asthma) a pulmonary specialist, is to achieve a good treatment balance by regular use of preventive medicine, accompanied by reliever medication, with proper inhaler technique. Self-care of asthma means regular taking of medication, monitoring of your own health, recognition of symptoms, avoidance of irritants, measuring of PEF values and regulation of medication in accordance with doctor’s instructions during periods such as the pollen season or winter. Information and support to quit smok¬ing and the use of other nicotine products is available from the Stumppi.fi service by the Organisation for Respiratory Health in Finland. In addition, good self-care includes oral care, taking the recommended vaccinations, weight control and exercise. Asthma sufferers who exercise need smaller doses of medicine and do not need be absent from work or got to the hospital as often. Good fitness improves lung function, enhances lung ventilation and expelling of mucus from airways. Interval training, alternating between short periods of exercise and rest, is particularly beneficial to people who have severe asthma or get symptoms from lengthy exercise. In the beginning, the period of exercise can last from just ten seconds to a couple of minutes. The period of rest should always be at least double the duration of the period of exercise. It should be either active rest or light exercise on a level that makes breathing easier. If exercise increases shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing, the use of medication that prevents symptoms caused by exercise should be discussed with the physician. Rehabilitation is available via the social security institution in Finland (Kela) without cost for the rehabilitee. It can include information about the disease and guidande self-care and coping methods as well as support in life-style changes.

Relevance
The Organisation for Respiratory Health in Finland (Hengitysliitto) is a non-profit organisation doing national advocacy work on respiratory health in Finland. The organisation provides up-to-date, evidence-based information on pulmonary diseases and their treatment, arranges courses, events etc., and cooperates widely with other organisations, the health care system, and the parliament.
“The Organisation for Respiratory Health in Finland includes 80 local respiratory health associations and two national associations: Sisäilmasta sairastuneet (Organisation for Persons with Indoor-Air-Induced Conditions) and Suomen CF-yhdistys (the Finnish CF Association). The total membership of the Organisation numbers nearly 23,000.
Individual members always join a local respiratory health association, which offer diverse activities and services at the local level, such as:
• Peer support: various peer support groups and meetings
• Members’ nights, clubs and trips
• Exercise groups for children and adults
• Information: public lectures and events, guides, advice and guidance
• Support for a non-smoking lifestyle: help with withdrawal symptoms and visits to educational institutes
• Cooperation with health care and other organisations
• Local advocacy and supervision of interests
• The Organisation for Respiratory Health in Finland supports the activities of the respiratory health associations by producing information and various support services.”
(www.hengitysliitto.fi/en/members/local-associations/ cited 7.4.2023)
The publications provided by the Organisation for Respiratory Health in Finland reach a notably large public. They are written in Finnish, Swedish, and many also in English, to serve the patients, their relatives and the health care professionals. The patients in the health care system are commonly advised to the associations’ services, for example the exercise groups.