More than three-quarters of asthma sufferers could be putting themselves at risk of a fatal asthma attack because they mistakenly believe their condition is under control, warns new research. A study by Allergy UK, funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK, revealed that 78 per cent of asthma sufferers who regard their condition as mild or moderate use up to four ‘reliever’ inhalers per month, when they shouldn’t even need to use one. Furthermore, 15 per cent of these asthma sufferers have attended A&E in the last 12 months, while nearly half have been prescribed steroids.

Based on the findings, Allergy UK has calculated that up to 2.7 million of the four million people with asthma in the UK are at risk of lifethreatening asthma attacks. Lindsey McManus, Asthma UK deputy CEO, said: “People ‘put up with’ their asthma symptoms and continue to use medication that isn’t treating the inflammation, rather than seeking help to get their asthma under control. They just don’t realise they are putting themselves in danger and could soon find themselves in A&E.”