Monday, 25 December 2006

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Alex Best: I thought I was going to die

George Best's ex-wife suffers with asthma

Alex Best was just 10 years old when she had her first asthma attack. ‘I was ill with bronchitis,’ she says. ‘I started wheezing and coughing and then found myself gasping for breath. It was very scary – I really thought I was going to die.’

Luckily, her mum and dad were at home and they took her straight to the doctor. ‘He treated me with a nebuliser, which creates a mist of medicine you inhale, and I began to breathe normally again,’ she continues. ‘He recommended I get a pump, and after that I was fine as long as I carried it with me.’

Over five million people in the UK suffer from asthma, which affects the airways. ‘When you come into contact with something you’re allergic to, the lining of the airways becomes inflamed and they swell up and narrow. The surrounding muscles tighten as well, making it harder to breathe,’ explains Louise Fitzsimons of Asthma UK.

Asthma has never affected my confidence

No one fully understands what causes asthma, but genetic factors are thought to play a part. Some believe that being overly hygienic and shielding young children from possible infection increases the risk as their immune systems don’t get the chance to develop fully. Smoking during pregnancy and environmental pollution can also bring on the condition.

‘I don’t know why I got it,’ says Alex, ‘but it does run in the family. My sister has it as well.’

Any number of common irritants can trigger her attacks: ‘It could be dust in the house, a smoky environment, very cold air, bronchitis, cat hair or pollen. But having asthma has never held me back or affected my confidence.

In school I was very sporty. I used to play lacrosse, tennis and netball and I swam for Surrey. As long as I took a few puffs from my pump, I’d be fine. Look at Paula Radcliffe – she’s asthmatic and she manages brilliantly.’

Controlling symptoms and treatments

If you have asthma and your symptoms worsen during a workout, your medication may need to be modified. But for some people, no matter how well their asthma’s controlled, exercise can still set off the tell-tale wheezing, coughing, itchiness or shortness of breath. The solution? ‘Remember to warm up and cool down, and take a couple of puffs of your reliever inhaler before you begin,’ advises Louise Fitzsimons.

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may prescribe a combination of treatments, including a preventer inhaler or steroid tablets.

‘I try not to rely too much on my pump. I find the less I use it, the less I need it,’ says 33-year-old Alex, who recently divorced football legend and notorious alcoholic George Best.

Stress of marriage split

The couple split up two years ago after a rocky nine-year marriage and the stress took its toll on Alex’s health. ‘I lost a lot of weight and it was a very difficult time,’ she recalls. ‘I decided to go to Spain for a bit to relax. The night before I was due to leave, I began to feel really anxious and started to have trouble breathing. I lay in bed and switched on the TV to try to take my mind off it. I took a few breaths from my pump and I soon felt OK again.’

Writing her autobiography, Always Alex, has enabled the former flight attendant to put the past behind her. ‘It felt really therapeutic. It was sometimes painful, reliving the bad times, but I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders.’

And her late ex-husband’s reaction to the book? ‘George was a bit shocked, but I made it clear it isn’t a character assassination. It’s about my life and hopefully it will help other women who are married to alcoholics because it’s a very difficult situation to be in.’

Alex leads a healthy lifestyle, but says she isn’t one to succumb to fads. ‘I don’t agree at all with diets like Atkins. I think your body needs a balanced diet – everything in moderation. I love vegetables, especially stir-fries, and roast dinners. And I love to cook. I prefer to start from scratch, so I know what’s going in there.’

She’s also a big fan of alternative therapies. ‘I’ve had reflexology and reiki – I’m even thinking of going back to college and doing a course,’ she says.

Next year I'm going on a trek in the Himalayas

She credits her two red setters for keeping her in shape: ‘My dogs need plenty of exercise, so I take them for long walks. I used to do a lot of training, but I’ve been slack recently.’

That last statement’s not strictly true, for last year Alex climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, in aid of the Children’s Trust: ‘The trek was really tough, but one advantage of having asthma is that you’re less likely to get altitude sickness. I took my inhaler, but thankfully I didn’t have to use it. And next year I’m going on a trek in the Himalayas!’

Unruffled by the storms she’s weathered, Alex is clear about one thing: the recipe for a healthy life. ‘Stress is really dangerous, so I try to remain positive and optimistic. I put everything down to experience. And you have to have your lows to enjoy your highs. After all, you only live once.

For more information, call the Asthma UK advice line on 0845 7010203 or visit www. asthma.org.uk. Always Alex (£17.99, Blake Publishing) is in shops now.