Asthma is a variable disease, which means that it tends to flare up (get worse) from time to time at varying degrees of severity. Why does this occur? While the causes of asthma attacks (also called "asthma flare-ups") are not fully known, scientists think they may be related to the way the disease affects the lungs.
In people with asthma, the airways are inflamed (swollen) and may be clogged with mucus. Both things make the airways narrower so it's harder to breathe. As well, asthma makes the airways very sensitive. If a person with asthma is exposed to something that irritates the airways (such as the asthma "triggers" listed below), the airways can tighten up, making breathing even more difficult.
It's very important to take your asthma medications regularly and as directed. Many people decide to stop taking their medications when their symptoms disappear. This is not a good idea! The reason is that most people without asthma symptoms have some degree of inflammation and bronchoconstriction in their airways which needs to be treated. If you stop taking your medications completely or don't take them exactly as prescribed, the cycle of inflammation and bronchoconstriction will start again and you could end up having a serious asthma attack. If you have questions or concerns about your asthma medications, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
One of the ways you can manage your asthma is to avoid exposure to the common asthma "triggers." These include pollution, cigarette smoke, exercise, stress, cold air, and infections. Many people with asthma also have other triggers, which are usually things they are allergic to, such as pollen, dust mites or animal dander. Asthma triggers irritate your airways and cause them to become narrow and inflamed which makes it difficult to breathe – an asthma attack.
So how can you avoid an asthma attack? While it may not be possible to completely prevent an attack, there are things you can do to reduce your risk:
- Avoid asthma triggers.
- Use your medications as directed.
- Print a copy of an asthma action plan if you don't have one already.
- Follow your asthma action plan.
Your asthma action plan helps you recognize the early warning signs of an asthma attack so you can better manage your asthma.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Taking-Control-of-Your-Asthma
Have you got a handle on your asthma? Some asthma sufferers have no idea how bad their asthma actually is. To find out whether your asthma is out of control, ask yourself:
- Am I having asthma symptoms (e.g., coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath) during the day, 4 or more days per week?
- Does my asthma wake me up at night?
- Have I recently missed school or work because of my asthma?
- Have I cut back on my usual activities because of my asthma?
- Have I recently gone to the emergency room or spent time in the hospital because of my asthma?
- Do I need to use my reliever medication 4 or more times per week?
- Have I experienced any unwanted effects from my asthma medications?
- If you use a peak flow meter (a device that helps you measure your lung function): Have my peak flow meter readings been getting worse?
- Have there been any changes in my routine or environment lately (e.g., getting a pet, spending more time around smokers)?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may need to change how you're managing your asthma. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about your asthma treatment. Your doctor or pharmacist may:
- review the way you are taking your medications to make sure that you are using them properly
- review your medications to see if you need to add or change medications or to increase medication doses
- recommend ways to avoid asthma triggers (especially if something in your environment has changed, such as exposure to smoke or pets)
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Taking-Control-of-Your-Asthma
If you want to take control of your asthma, knowledge is power. Here's what you need to know:
Know how well your asthma is controlled. Ask yourself the questions from "Is your asthma out of control" (the previous section of this article). If you answer "yes" to any of the questions, you may need to make changes to your lifestyle or your medications to make sure you're in control of your asthma. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your asthma action plan. For more on asthma action plans, see "Your asthma action plan" (the next section of this article).
Know your triggers. Triggers are things that make your asthma worse, such as cold air, cigarette smoke, or pets. Every person with asthma has a unique set of triggers. Find out what yours are! Then talk to your doctor or pharmacist about ways to avoid them.
Know your medications. Your asthma medication won't work if it's not used properly. Be sure you know:
- the name of the medication and what it is for
- whether the medication is a "controller" (a medication used regularly to keep asthma under control) or a "reliever" (a medication used for quick relief of asthma symptoms)
- how much to take, and when to take it
- how to use the medication device (such as inhalers or spacers)
- what side effects to expect and when to contact your doctor
If you're not sure about any of these things, talk to your pharmacist or doctor. Even if you think you're using the medication properly, it's a good idea to ask your pharmacist to check your technique (the way you use a medication device such as an asthma inhaler) when you have the medication refilled.
Know what to do if your asthma gets worse. While out shopping, you start coughing, wheezing, and feeling short of breath. Should you take more of your reliever medication? Call your doctor? Call 9-1-1? If you're not sure, then you need an asthma action plan. This plan will give you personalized instructions on what to do when your asthma acts up, including how to adjust your medication doses and when to seek medical help.
Having an action plan can help you feel more in control of your asthma, improve your lung function, and reduce your risk of ending up in the hospital or emergency room. If you don't have an action plan, talk to your doctor. For more information on asthma action plans, see "Your asthma action plan" (the next section of this article).
If you're having trouble keeping your asthma under control, talk to your doctor. Uncontrolled asthma can not only lead to missed school, work, and social activities, but if severe, it can lead to hospitalization and even death. Take action today and get your asthma under control!
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Taking-Control-of-Your-Asthma
An asthma action plan is a written plan to help you manage your asthma. You and your family doctor will work together to create the plan, which will contain personalized instructions to help you deal with different situations. Your pharmacist can also help you.
An asthma action plan may also be called an asthma care plan. Asthma action plans may look different, but they all contain similar information to help with asthma management.
An up-to-date asthma action plan can help you control asthma so it doesn't control you!
Here's how an asthma action plan works:
The plan divides your asthma into three "zones" – green, yellow, and red. It gives you instructions to help you tell which zone you are in and what to do for each zone:
- Green zone: Your asthma is under control. No changes are needed to your treatment plan.
- Yellow zone: You may be losing control of your asthma. Your asthma action plan will give you personalized instructions for how to adjust your medication doses (reliever medications, inhaled corticosteroids, and some combination inhalers can be given at higher doses when asthma worsens) and when to call your doctor.
- Red zone: Emergency! Your asthma action plan will recommend that you seek immediate medical attention, and will give you personalized instructions for which medications to take (and at what doses) while you are waiting to be seen by a doctor.
You and your doctor will fill in specific instructions for each zone so you know which zone you are in and what to do if your asthma gets worse (i.e., if you are in the yellow or red zones). Having an asthma action plan can give you a greater sense of control over your asthma. It can also improve your lung function, reduce your risk of ending up in the hospital, and make it less likely that you'll need to go to the emergency room.
If you don't have an asthma action plan, talk to your doctor about getting one! Asthma is a variable disease, so it's important to know how to manager your asthma and what to do if it gets worse. Because your asthma can change over time, it's also important to revisit your asthma action plan at every doctor's visit and keep it up to date.
Keep your asthma action plan with you at all times. Your asthma action plan will give you the knowledge you need to stay in charge of your asthma!
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Taking-Control-of-Your-Asthma
