As people with asthma get older the lungs and the airways become less elastic and less responsive to treatment. Lung tests such as spirometry can find out whether the condition might be better managed as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This can mean a change of inhalers. Vaccination against flu and pneumococcal pneumonia is important. A chest X-ray is used to rule out any other lung disease.

You need to have the condition of the skin around your leg ulcer and circulation down into the leg checked. The type of treatment necessary will depend on the type of ulcer you have. Your practice nurse can do this and advise on treatment. Manuka honey is a known natural treatment for encouraging an ulcer to heal, but you’d best have a nurse look at it before going ahead.