Ballymena woman with asthma on how severe allergies to perfume and smoke have left her housebound

A Co Antrim woman living with asthma says she’s been left housebound due to her severe allergies to smoke and perfume.

Gail Owens, 51, from Ballymena says even walking past someone can trigger her asthma, leaving her fighting for breath.

Gail shared her story to mark World Asthma Day on Tuesday and says living with allergies that triggers her asthma is “very isolating”.

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She said: “I was diagnosed with asthma eight years ago after struggling with a constant cough. Since then, I have developed allergies to certain smells such as smoke and perfume.

“It’s gone so bad I hardly leave my house as just walking past someone with these smells on their clothes can trigger my asthma, leaving me fighting for breath.

“I am not working due to my health and feel I need more support managing my allergies. I even try to avoid hospitals as people wear perfume which makes my breathing worse.”

Gail added: “Living with allergies that triggers my asthma is very isolating and I am always on high alert. I miss lots of events like weddings and birthday parties. I wish people took asthma more seriously.

“The smoking legislation needs to be enforced, people still smoke near hospital doors, it's dangerous for me as it can trigger an asthma attack.”

This World Asthma Day leading lung charity Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland has revealed the top ten triggers that can worsen asthma symptoms and leave people fighting for breath.

The charity’s annual Living with a Lung Condition reveals the top ten triggers for asthma colds and flu; weather changes; exercise; cigarette smoke; dust impacted their asthma; air pollution and cleaning products.

There are other lesser-known asthma triggers too – including emotions, mould, stress, paint fumes, hot weather, pets, e-cigarette vapour, types of food, hormones, a cold home and alcohol.

On the back of these findings, the charity is urging people to take the simple but essential steps to help cut the risk of asthma triggers causing symptoms or an asthma attack:

These are:

1. If you have a preventer inhaler or a MART inhaler, take it every day as prescribed, even when well – this keeps inflammation down in your airways so you’re less likely to react badly to your asthma triggers.

2. Use an asthma action plan to note down triggers and what to do if you get asthma symptoms.

3. Go to your annual asthma reviews to make sure your treatment plan is giving you the best protection against your triggers and cutting your risk of symptoms and an asthma attack. Your GP or nurse can also check your inhaler technique.

4. It’s important to always keep your reliever inhaler with you. This will help you deal with symptoms quickly as soon as they come on.

Joseph Carter, Head of Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland said: “This World Asthma Day, we want to encourage the 126,000 people with asthma in Northern Ireland to look after their lung health by being aware of their triggers, getting an asthma action plan so they know what to do if their symptoms worsen, and having their medication and inhaler technique regularly reviewed by their GP or nurse.

“Triggers can be unpredictable and variable, and you should never be complacent about them.

“Asthma triggers can be difficult to navigate, and some, such as the weather and viral infections, are impossible to avoid. But if asthma is managed properly, being exposed to a trigger should not be life-threatening.”

Asthma + Lung UK Northern Ireland are calling on the Department of Health to urgently make lung health a priority and introduce a much-needed Lung Health Strategy, helping to ensure people with asthma get the support they need.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said its officials and the Public Health Agency are working with HSC Trusts, primary care and voluntary partners to develop a regional lung health plan.

They added: "A series of stakeholder events were held throughout 2023 and work streams in four areas, including asthma as one of the first priorities, have been launched.

"The plan will also consider paediatric services, interstitial lung disease and primary care diagnostics. These four areas represent the first tranche of work. Later work will consider COPD, Sleep Apnoea, Non-invasive ventilation, home oxygen and community services and a range of regional services.

"The work programme will sit under the oversight of a reformed NI Respiratory Forum that will report to the Department of Health and PHA.

"However, the budgetary situation facing the Department is extremely challenging and, while the Minister will continue to make the case for greater resources for health, the absence of adequate funding will continue to impact the pace of implementation."

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