Hywel Dda Health Charities is the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board. The aim of the charity is to make a positive difference to the health, wellbeing and experience of NHS patients, service users and staff across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) devices test how inflamed your airways are. This can help diagnose asthma and also monitor response to treatment.

Leah Partridge, Asthma Interface Clinical Nurse Specialist, said: “We’re so grateful that charitable funds have enabled us to purchase the new FeNO devices.

“The device measures the amount of fractional exhaled nitric oxide in your breath. If you have raised levels this indicates that your airways are inflamed resulting in poor asthma control. This inflammation can be controlled with asthma medicines.

“Once you’re taking asthma medicines, your results should show lower levels of nitric oxide in your breath compared to levels before you started treatment. This is a sign the medicines are working to control the inflammation. If the inflammation is not treated, it can cause life threatening asthma attacks.

“The purchase of the FeNO machines by charitable funds has allowed the Asthma Interface Clinical Nurse Specialist Team to deliver this test closer to patients’ homes in Primary Care settings across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.”

Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”

For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, go to www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk