As many as 300,000 people with asthma in Ireland are not using their inhalers properly, increasing their risk of suffering a serious asthma attack, the Asthma Society of Ireland has warned.

According to the society's CEO, Averil Power, up to 60% of all people with asthma do not have the condition under control because they do not use their inhalers properly.

"As a result, someone ends up in A&E every 26 minutes with a serious asthma attack and 50 people die each year from the condition. Tragically, the vast majority of these deaths could be prevented through proper asthma management," she explained.

This week is Asthma Week (May 1-8) and as part of this awareness event, the society has teamed up with Boots Ireland to provide free ‘Let's Breathe Easy' asthma consultations and support packs in Boots pharmacies nationwide. These will be available throughout the month of May.

The consultations aim to provide advice and support to people with asthma so that they can achieve better control of the condition. They can also have their inhaler technique checked to ensure that they are not wasting their medicine by using the device incorrectly.

Asthma Week includes World Asthma Day (May 2) and the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, used this event to remind people of the importance of maintaining good asthma control.

"With proper management, people with asthma can live full lives, symptom-free. However, poor asthma control leaves them at risk of having a serious attack at any time. I would encourage everyone with asthma to avail of the advice of their pharmacist to ensure they are taking their inhalers correctly and managing their asthma to the best effect.

"It is also worth reminding parents that since 2015, all children under the age of six are entitled to a free annual asthma check with their GP. It's important that everyone is aware of this entitlement," he commented.

For more information on the Asthma Society, click here