The Less Albuterol The Better
When you cant breathe, you know as well as any other asthmatic that you will do just about anything to get your breathing back to normal. Asthma attacks can be a frightening experience! Being a doctor that specializes in asthma treatment, the frequency of albuterol use is one of the tools used to gauge asthma control less albuterol means better asthma control! We now have so many asthma controllers to choose fromworking together we can find the right program for your particular type of asthma. ;
That said, if youre experiencing symptoms, its appropriate to address those symptoms with your inhaler. We use the Rule of Two and the Rule of Four not to restrict your inhaler use, but to identify when your asthma could use a little more clinical attention. The goal of that clinical attention is to let you forget about your inhaler for a whileor, at least, not use it so often.
Trust me, your albuterol inhaler wont mind not being your best friend!
If you have questions or concerns about your asthma program, feel free to contact Dr. Bubak at Dakota Allergy and Asthma at .
Important Things To Remember About Inhalers
Are Allergies And Asthma Triggers The Same
90% of children and 60% of adults have allergies as their triggers but not everyone with allergies suffers with asthma.
Not all asthma triggers are allergy based .
Allergies and asthma have many things in common aside both making you miserable. Allergies and asthma often occur together. The same substances that trigger your hay fever symptoms may also cause asthma signs and symptoms, such as shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness. Though allergic asthma is very common, there are other types of asthma with different kinds of triggers. For example, for some people, asthma can be triggered by exercise, infections, cold air, gastroesophageal reflux disease or stress. Many people have more than one kind of asthma trigger.
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When Should You Call For Help
anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
- You have severe trouble breathing.
or seek immediate medical care if:
- Your symptoms do not get better after you have followed your asthma action plan.
- You cough up yellow, dark brown, or bloody mucus .
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
- Your coughing and wheezing get worse.
- You need to use quick-relief medicine on more than 2 days a week within a month .
- You need help figuring out what is triggering your asthma attacks.
Be Strategic When Planning Your Travel
Consider if youre more likely to encounter certain triggers if you journey to certain places. You may want to choose your destination with your triggers in mind.
If your symptoms are triggered by mold spores, avoid vacationing in damp, rainy regions and stay away from older, potentially musty buildings.
If your symptoms are triggered by air pollution, dont go to major urban areas where air quality is generally lower. You may also want to avoid regions with high pollen counts in the spring and fall.
Being strategic about your destination can boost your health and happiness during your trip.
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Tips To Keep Your Asthma Under Control
May 4th, 2015
Almost three million Canadians and more than 300 million people worldwide have asthma, including many top athletes. Asthma is a common chronic lung disease that can make it difficult to breathe. ;Although there is no cure for asthma, those with the condition can live healthy, active lives if their asthma is under control.;
For World Asthma Day , the Canadian Lung Association has some helpful tips for people with asthma.;
1.;; ;Know your triggers and avoid themTriggers like allergens and irritants can make ;your asthma symptoms worse by irritating your airways. ;The best way to control your asthma is to know what your asthma triggers are and how to avoid them.
2.;; ;Take your asthma medication as prescribed by your doctorMany people think they can skip their asthma preventer medications when they don’t feel any symptoms that’s not true. Asthma is a chronic disease. If you have asthma, you have it all the time, even when you don’t feel symptoms. You have to manage your asthma every day, not just on days when you feel symptoms. Read more about asthma medications and how to use them.
3.;; ;Learn how to use your inhaler properlyYour health-care provider can show you how to use your inhaler properly so that ;your medicine reaches the airways. ;Ask him or her ;to watch you useyour inhaler. ;Your health-care provider may offer suggestions on how to improve your technique so that the medication gets to your airways. Watch our videos on how to properly use your inhalers.
Can You Outgrow Asthma
Can you really outgrow asthma? Many asthmatics and parents of asthma sufferers have asked this question. There have been many cases of individuals who were diagnosed with asthma as children and then saw their symptoms decrease and even disappear entirely as they reached young adulthood.
But did these individuals actually outgrow the condition or is there another answer for their seemingly miraculous recovery?;
The simple answer is that, despite evidence to the contrary, it is not possible to outgrow asthma. Asthma is a chronic, lifelong condition. Even if symptoms seem to taper off, the underlying condition of the lungs that caused them still exists and it can still lead to an attack at any time. But that doesnt mean that all asthma sufferers have to give up hope.;
So how do you explain those individuals who used to suffer from regular asthma attacks and then just stopped experiencing symptoms altogether? There could be several possible explanations.
The most likely is that they never actually had asthma to begin with. Because the symptoms of asthma can be closely related to those of other allergy-related conditions, it could be that what a doctor thought was asthma was really some other kind of allergy that spontaneously improved as the immune system matured.;
Wishing you the best of health
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Q: How Can Schools Address The Issue Of Sharing Inhalers
Sally Schoessler: We want students to care about each other, and in the case of a student seeing a friend in distress, the sharing of inhalers may actually save a life while also conflicting with school policy.
It would be best for the student with the inhaler to get the attention of the nearest adult immediately and explain the situation. Whenever possible, the teacher could get the affected student to the school nurse for treatment.
But life doesnt always work according to plan. Sometimes asthma becomes severe very quickly.
Schools should consider;educating staff about asthma signs and symptoms and how to respond when a student is experiencing an asthma episode. Schools should also teach;students about school policies and how to get help in an emergency.
Can You Prevent Asthma
You need to know hoGw to prevent or minimize future asthma attacks.
- If your asthma attacks are triggered by an allergic reaction, avoid your triggers as much as possible.
- Keep taking your asthma medicines after you are discharged. This is extremely important. Although the symptoms of an acute asthma attack go away after appropriate treatment, asthma itself never goes away.
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Easier Said Than Done Right
I am finally at an age where I shouldnt have to do these tasks anymore. I have kids that are old enough they can help out some. I also have access to more money now, so some of these jobs can simply be hired out. For instance, I can hire a service to manage my yard. And Im sure theres a kid who will shovel snow. So, those tasks will be pretty easy to avoid.
Other tasks might not be so easy to avoid. For instance, who am I going to get to sift through all those boxes of stuff. Most of that stuff is probably junk and can just be tossed out. But, amid that junk might be a treasure. Still, is the reward here worth the risk? Probably not.
How To Store Asthma Inhalers
Asthma inhalers are a fast, convenient way to deliver medications to relieve the symptoms of asthma 1. Inhalers are the preferred method of dispensing both broncho-dilators such as albuterol, which act rapidly to open bronchial tubes and allow the patient to breathe easier; and anti-inflammatories such as salmeterol, which work over time to reduce inflammation of the airways. If you have asthma you may have multiple inhalers and may keep them in a variety of places, such as a purse, gym bag or on the bedside table 1. In order for your inhaler to work properly, you should observe a few precautions when storing it.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Replace the cap on the inhaler after each use. This keeps dust and dirt off the mouthpiece, and keeps anything from getting into the inhaler and blocking the action.
Store your inhaler in a clean environment. You might want to keep a rescue inhaler in your gym bag or backpack so that its handy, but sharing space with your dirty gym socks isnt healthy for you or the inhaler. Instead, put your inhaler in a sealed zip-top bag. It will still be handy when you need it, but it will always be clean.
Warnings
Your inhaler should be at room temperature before you use it. If it’s cold, warm it in your hands. Never try to warm it with a match or under running water.
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What Are The Triggers
There are many different triggers for asthma attacks. Many asthmatics are well aware of their trigger points. However, they may not always be able to avoid them.
Pollen and pollution are increasingly responsible for triggering asthma. Many people find a worsening of their symptoms in Spring, combined with the onset of hay fever. There are many species of grasses, trees and weeds in the UK. Some people are particularly sensitive to some and do not react at all to others. There is also huge variation around the country as to when pollen is released. People can begin to suffer from hay fever as early as January. About 20% of people with hay fever are allergic to birch tree pollen and this, as well as oak and plane trees, are responsible for many unpleasant symptoms and can exacerbate asthma.
Grass pollens are the most common cause of hay fever and usually affect people in May, June and July.
Weed pollens usually release pollen from early spring to early autumn.
If you know pollen is a trigger for your asthma, speak to your GP or asthma nurse.
The Met Office issues really useful pollen advice.
- Shortness of breath
- Tightness in the chest
- Often people find it particularly difficult to breathe out and have an increase in sticky mucus and phlegm
Its important to note that not everyone will get all of these symptoms.
Q: From A Medical Perspective Is It Ever Appropriate To Share An Albuterol Inhaler
Dr. Stukus: Albuterol delivered through an inhaler is unlikely to cause any significant side effects whether administered to someone who does not need it or accidentally given in doses higher than recommended.
While it is never appropriate to share prescription medication, many people can prevent worsened asthma symptoms and an emergency department visit just by receiving a few puffs of albuterol at the onset of symptoms. In this situation, the benefit from sharing albuterol far outweighs any potential harm.
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What Medications Can Be Used To Treat Asthma
There are two main medications used to treat asthma. A rescue inhaler is used for an asthma attack. ;ALL patients with asthma should have a rescue inhaler with them at all times. Some people also need to use a controller inhaler to help with swelling in the airway. It is very important to use the controller inhaler every day.
So Can You Be A Firefighter With Asthma
Yes, it is possible to be a firefighter even if you have asthma. However, if your symptoms are prevalent, youre less likely to be accepted.
To prove that you have the symptoms of your condition under control, youll have to undertake a few different medical tests.
These will usually be respiratory tests that can reveal whether or not your lungs will be able to handle the strain that comes along with being a firefighter.
No two fire departments are exactly alike; some will be more lenient than others when it comes to accepting applicants with asthma.
To avoid disappointment, we recommend that you check the applicable rules and guidelines of the specific department you want to work in.;
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Sorting Through Boxes Of Stuff
By stuff I mean pretty much anything. I define stuff as random objects. You can use your imagination here. Wires, tools, bolts, electric outlets, toys, clothes, towels, etc. Now, add in some hot humid days during the summer months and you get a great environment for mold spore and dust mite growth.
Open up the box to sort out the stuff and all these triggers billow into the air. You inhale over time and the asthma strikes. Again, wearing a mask during such tasks would be a good idea. But, for this guy, sorting through boxes is a better job for non-asthmatics.
Medical Research On Marijuana For Asthma
Did you know that the ancient Egyptians used cannabis to treat various conditions, including possibly asthma? Legendary French writer, Marcel Proust used cannabis to manage his asthmatic symptoms so much so that he referred to his joints as anti-asthma cigarettes. In the 1920s, when it was still legal in many states, physicians often prescribed cannabis concoctions as a cough medication.
Then, prohibition kicked in and the tobacco industry swelled to an extraordinary level. Once the link between cigarettes and lung cancer was uncovered, all forms of smoking were labeled as extremely dangerous.
In the modern era, studies on the benefits of marijuana for asthma sufferers are virtually non-existent. We do know, however, that some molecular variations of THC can produce a bronchodilatory effect. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease, and cannabis is known for its anti-inflammatory effects.
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How Do I Manage My Asthma As A Firefighter
If you passed the test and already have a job as a firefighter, there are a few things you can do to improve your lung capacity which can help to lessen the risk of potential triggers.
Carefully consider what your triggers are and how you can approach them in the workplace.;
Some people find it useful to have a plan of action in place with the rest of their team in case of an asthma attack. This can help to ensure a fast response if you ever need it.
Be sure to talk openly with them about your symptoms and teach them what signs to look out for and all about your triggers.;
Firefighters who were not asthmatic prior to employment but developed asthma while on the job should be investigated for potential causes.
Chemicals, toxic spills, and combustion smoke can all cause occupational asthma and other reactive airway disorders .
Learn First Aid For Someone Who Is Having An Asthma Attack
1. Help the person sit in a comfortable position and take their inhaler.
When someone has an asthma attack, their airways narrow, making it difficult for them to breathe. An inhaler relaxes the muscles, allowing the airways to expand and ease their breathing.
2. Reassure the person. If the attack becomes severe, or they don’t have their inhaler, call 999 as soon as possible.
A mild attack should ease within a few minutes. If it doesnt, they can continue to take their inhaler. You should call 999 if they they dont have their inhaler, their inhaler has no effect, they are becoming worse or they become unable to talk. Do not leave them, in case the attack becomes severe quickly. If you cant call 999, get someone else to do it.;;
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How Running Benefits Asthma
You might be drawn to any of a number of aspects of running. Some like that it allows them to exercise outdoors with others; others feel it helps them focus on themselves and clear their head. Still others love the endorphin rush and positive feelings it produces.
Running is a type of exercise that can also help you achieve several physical health benefits, including building endurance and helping prevent unhealthy weight gain. These outcomes are beneficial to anyone, particularly if you have asthma.
Adults and children who have asthma can improve aerobic fitness, achieve better asthma control, and have an improved quality of life by participating in routine exercise.
If you are enthusiastic about running, there are good reasons to follow your interest. And if you’re hesitant, note that research shows that the prevalence of asthma among recreational and elite athletes is at least as high, if not higher, than the prevalence of asthma among non-athletes.