What is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. It is the most common chronic lung condition in Singapore which affects both adults and children.
Common symptoms of asthma include:
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Cough
While there is no known cure for asthma, it can be controlled with proper treatment and management plan.
What is Severe Asthma?
Asthma that remains uncontrolled despite:
- Maximal inhaler therapy
- Optimisation of all other treatable factors and comorbidities
Poor asthma control is indicated by the presence of any of the following:
- Frequent symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, waking up at night with difficulty breathing, and/or limitation of daytime activities
- Use of fast acting reliever medications such as salbutamol inhaler or additional doses of budesonide-formoterol several times a week.
- Recurrent hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and/or visits to primary care provider requiring oral steroids for flare-ups
- Frequent use of oral steroids for flare-ups
- Impaired lung function
Our Multidisciplinary Team
Core
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Supporting |
Pulmonologists Asthma nurses/coordinators Pharmacists Physiotherapists (including speech therapist) | Psychologist Medical Social Worker Smoking Cessation counsellor Other specialties: Allergist, ENT specialist, Dermatologist, Rheumatologist, Endocrinologist, Gastroenterologists, Psychiatrist, etc.
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Doctors:
- Clin Assoc Prof Mariko Koh Siyue
- Adj Asst Prof Tiew Pei Yee Jessica
- Dr Puan Youxin
Asthma nurses/coordinators:
- Ms Tan Li Leng, Karen
- Ms Noor Syifa Bte Shamsuddin
- Ms Tiang Poh Ching
Pharmacists:
- Dr Ong Kheng Yong
- Ms Vivian Tan
- Ms Low Kai Xin
Physiotherapists:
Resources
Leaflets:
Webpages:
More resources for asthma:
As you seek comprehensive support for your medical needs, it's beneficial to explore a variety of resources. These resources aim to complement the care provided by SGH and empower you with a broader understanding of your condition and available treatment options.
Resources from Primary Care Pages:
-
Guide to achieving asthma control
- Written asthma action plan (WAAP)
- Technique cards for using various types of inhalers:
- Asthma Inhaler Technique Videos from the Singapore National Asthma Programme:
Add-on medications for treatment of severe asthma:
- Leukotriene receptor antagonists (Montelukast)
- Long acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA)
- Macrolide antibiotics (Azithromycin or Clarithromycin)
- Biologics (Monoclonal antibodies)
- Low dose oral corticosteroids (Prednisolone)
