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Do Inhalers Make Asthma Worse

Asthma Inhalers And Weight Gain

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Although extremely effective in controlling symptoms, asthma inhalers and weight gain may go hand and hand. Documentation to support this connection is thin however, experts may have found what links the two and why. The weight gain may be due to steroids. Many of these lifesavers contain steroids and steroids are associated with increased appetite. Thus, if you arenât watching what you eat, weight gain may be inevitable. Unlike other side effects to these drugs, weight gain is reversible. Commonly prescribed asthma inhalers with steroids are Advair, Asmanex, Qvar, Flovent Diskus and Pulimicort Flexhaler.

Another reason for this direct link to weight gain and certain asthma inhalers is people with asthma may not exercise for fear of causing an attack. No exercise and eating more is a recipe for weight gain. Because weight gain can cause pressure on the lungs, losing weight is an opportunity to help improve asthma.

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 .

Who Strategy For Prevention And Control Of Asthma

Asthma is included in the WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

WHO is taking action to extend diagnosis of and treatment for asthma in a number of ways.

The WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions was developed to help improve NCD management in primary health care in low-resource settings. PEN includes protocols for the assessment, diagnosis, and management of chronic respiratory diseases , and modules on healthy lifestyle counselling, including tobacco cessation, and self-care.

Reducing tobacco smoke exposure is important for both primary prevention of asthma and disease management. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is enabling progress in this area as are WHO initiatives such as MPOWER and mTobacco Cessation.

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Which Medicines Make Asthma Worse

When talking about asthma triggers with other people, no one would mention that certain medicines can be asthma symptoms triggers. And who in the world would think that medications cause asthma symptoms, when medications make people healthy, not ill? However, in reality, there are some medications that may trigger and worsen asthma symptoms. Before you commence with medication other than youre your asthma meds, you should inform your doctor about it.

Dont Forget Your Asthma Inhalers

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Your asthma action plan also identifies other ways to keepyour asthma in line, like using a rescueinhaler to provide short-term symptom relief and a maintenance inhaler that deliversmedicine every day for long-term asthma control.

If your asthma is severe enough to require daily medications, dont think Im fine, I dont need my inhaler today, says Dr. Latifi. Thats a mistake. Daily controllers like steroid inhalers prevent flare-ups from occurring. They keep airway inflammation the cause of asthma under control.

Once you experience symptoms, your asthma has alreadystarted to spiral out of control. Even at this point, many people push offtreatment. They may try to ride out the symptoms for a few days and see if thesituation improves.

But dont wait, Dr. Latifi urges: If you feel symptoms, useyour rescue inhaler and contact your provider who may suggest you come in for atreatment. Asthma is life-threatening, so waiting even a few days can land youin the emergency room or a hospital bed.

He offers two additional tips for asthma medicines:

  • Use a spacer:A spacer disperses the drug more efficiently so the lungs can quickly put it touse. It also results in less of the medicine sticking to your mouth and throat.
  • Rinseyour mouth: Rinsing may help you avoid thrush, a white film in the back ofyour mouth and throat. Steroid inhalers can lead to thrush because the steroidmesses with the bacterial balance of your palate.

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What Is The Role Of Inhaled Steroids In Asthma

Inhaled steroids, also called inhaled corticosteroids, are considered to be the most effective medications for controlling asthma when taken regularly. They work continuously to reduce swelling of the airways. It can take weeks for an inhaled corticosteroid to reduce the inflammation in your airways, so be patient.

Can I Take Antihistamines For My Allergies

Antihistamines are usually safe for people who have asthma to use, but they can cause side effects. Some antihistamines cant be taken with certain other medicines. Like any other medicine, read the warnings and instructions on the label and check with your doctor before you start taking an antihistamine.

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The Impact Of Asthma On Daily Life

Asthma is often under-diagnosed and under-treated, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

People with under-treated asthma can suffer sleep disturbance, tiredness during the day, and poor concentration. Asthma sufferers and their families may miss school and work, with financial impact on the family and wider community. If symptoms are severe, people with asthma may need to receive emergency health care and they may be admitted to hospital for treatment and monitoring. In the most severe cases, asthma can lead to death.

After An Asthma Attack

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You should see a GP or asthma nurse within 48 hours of leaving hospital, or ideally on the same day if you did not need hospital treatment.

About 1 in 6 people treated in hospital for an asthma attack need hospital care again within 2 weeks, so its important to discuss how you can reduce your risk of future attacks.

Talk to a doctor or nurse about any changes that may need to be made to manage your condition safely.

For example, the dose of your treatment may need to be adjusted or you may need to be shown how to use your inhaler correctly.

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Overuse Of Albuterol Has Correlation With Depression And Lower Mental Functioning

Other studies have suggested that there is a correlation between overexposure to albuterol, the medication within the inhaler, and depression. The study found that of users of albuterol, 27% overused the drug, while 22% underused the drug. Of those who overused the albuterol, 45% used the inhalar on a daily basis. The overusers not only had more symptomatic days, but generally scored worse on the asthma control survey, the asthma symptom utility index, and the shortness of breath test. Additionally, overusers of albuterol had lower cognitive functioning than non-overusers. The study did not indicate whether it was the asthma and use of the albuterol that led to depression, or that depressive patients were more likely to perceive their asthma as being worse than others and therefore overused their albuterol.

Attitudes And Counseling Related To Weight Loss

Ford et al have, based on data from the Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System, reported that 27.3% out of 13,953 participants with current asthma had a BMI of 30, and that 72.9% of the obese participants with asthma reported trying to lose weight. Furthermore, 82.9% of obese participants receiving weight-loss advice reported trying to lose weight, compared to 63.8% among obese participants who had not received such advice. This study, therefore, illustrates, although so far not supported by other studies, the important role for health care professionals in educating their patients with asthma about the importance of weight control, and in assisting and supporting their overweight and obese patients with asthma in setting achievable weight goals.

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What To Do If You Have An Asthma Attack

If you think youre having an asthma attack, you should:

  • Sit upright and try to take slow, steady breaths. Try to remain calm, as panicking will make things worse.
  • Take 1 puff of your reliever inhaler every 30 to 60 seconds, up to a maximum of 10 puffs.
  • If the ambulance has not arrived within 15 minutes, repeat step 2.
  • Never be frightened of calling for help in an emergency.

    Try to take the details of your medicines with you to hospital if possible.

    If your symptoms improve and you do not need to call 999, get an urgent same-day appointment to see a GP or asthma nurse.

    This advice is not for people on SMART or MART treatment. If this applies to you, ask a GP or asthma nurse what to do if you have an asthma attack.

    Healthy Eating And Weight Gain When You Have Severe Asthma

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    It can be much harder to manage your weight when you have severe asthma for many different reasons:

    When youre dealing with a long-term condition thats as challenging as severe asthma its common to experience low mood and feel stressed, and for some people this can increase your desire to comfort eat, or drink alcohol, sugary drinks and sweetened coffee which are high in calories, says Asthma UKs in-house GP Dr Andy Whittamore, Ask for support from your GP or a dietitian if youre finding this is an issue for you.

    Twenty years on non-stop steroids caused seven stone weight gain. That was something I did find difficult as I was no longer able to be as active as Id been in the past and any exercise was difficult at times. My appearance changed dramatically and people who hadnt seen me for a while used to comment on the weight gain which did lower my confidence.

    New drugs, called monoclonal antibodies, also known as mAbs or biologics, that target specific types of severe asthma are now helping some people to reduce or even stop taking steroids, but they are not suitable for everybody with severe asthma. If these new medicines arent right for you, you may still probably need to take high doses of oral corticosteroid pills long term.

    Even if youre taking steroids and youre getting asthma symptoms, its still possible to take steps to manage your weight.

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    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 donât 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.

    What Can I Do To Make It Easier To Breathe When Its Humid Outside

    When its hot and humid outside, there are some things you can do to try and lessen the effects on your asthma.Lessen other asthma irritants by avoiding things that you know will trigger your asthma. For example, perfumes, aerosols, and smoking.

    Here are some tips on how to cope with both humidity and asthma during the warmer months:

    • Stay on top of your preventive medicines and talk to your doctor right away if they dont seem to be effective.
    • Install a dehumidifier in your home or purchase a portable one. Set it to keep your home between 30 and 50 percent.
    • Stay indoors/keep on your air conditioner as much as possible. This keeps the air moving in your home and help prevents the mold from growing and dust mites from breeding.
    • Avoid strenuous exercise outdoors during the hottest and most humid times.

    Having asthma can make catching your breath a bit tougher in the summertime, but if you are armed with a little knowledge and some common sense, you can muddle through just fine.

    Are there any tips we missed? Be sure to share them with us if so.

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    Knowing Your Asthma Action Plan Is Step One

    For most people with asthma, managing the chronic condition involves a multi-pronged approach tailored to your symptoms and lifestyle.

    Step one for everyone, however, is having a firm grasp of your asthma action plan.

    Work with your doctor to create an asthma action plan that covers how to:

    In addition, monitor your symptoms carefully. Keep track of what they are, when they occur, and their severity.

    Journal of Asthma and Allergy,

    • In cold, dry air
    • In environments with airborne irritants, such as cigarette smoke

    Personal Asthma Action Plan

    Using inhalers too often can make asthma worse

    As part of your initial assessment, you should be encouraged to draw up a personal asthma action plan with your GP or asthma nurse.

    If you’ve been admitted to hospital because of an asthma attack, you should be offered an action plan before you go home.

    The action plan should include information about your asthma medicines, and will help you recognise when your symptoms are getting worse and what steps to take. You should also be given information about what to do if you have an asthma attack.

    Your personal asthma action plan should be reviewed with your GP or asthma nurse at least once a year, or more frequently if your symptoms are severe.

    As part of your asthma plan, you may be given a peak flow meter. This will give you another way of monitoring your asthma, rather than relying only on symptoms, so you can recognise deterioration earlier and take appropriate steps.

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    Eat Slow Wait 20 Minutes

    Your brain takes some time to process the fact that youve had enough to eat. Eating quickly means you dont realize youre full until well after youve hit that point, typically resulting in overeating.

    Try slowing down. Eat a reasonable serving of food. Then, wait at least 20 minutes and drink a glass of water. Often, youll find yourself feeling full once that break is up.

    Mouse Study Finds Chemical Reaction Behind Rebound Effect

    FRIDAY, Aug. 15, 2003 — After years of mystery, scientists say they finally understand why asthma patients who use the most common types of inhalers often suffer from a rebound effect that makes their condition worse.

    Airway-opening inhalers — including albuterol, ventolin and salbutamol — appear to cause a biochemical reaction that exacerbates swelling in the body’s airway. The swelling, in turn, can block air flow and make breathing more difficult.

    “Everyone knew that effect that was there, but no one knew why. Now we know,” says Dr. Tom Stibolt, a pulmonologist with the Kaiser Permanente health plan in Portland, Ore.

    Over the past two decades, a new generation of medications known as beta2-agonists, commonly found in inhalers, has let asthmatics breathe more easily by opening up their airways. But doctors have long known those patients can relapse if they don’t use another kind of inhaler that reduces inflammation in the airway, which causes constriction in the first place.

    On the one hand, the bronchodilating inhalers — known as “relievers” — are a good temporary measure “because they save lives while you do the things you need to do to reduce the inflammation,” Stibolt says. But patients often are so impressed by the rapid response of the inhalers that they don’t use the anti-inflammation inhalers — known as “controllers” — that provide a recurrence.

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    The Facts About Asthma And Weight

    Theres been a growing awareness in recent years that many asthmatics are overweight. This has been a cause for concern, since studies show that people who carry extra weight could increase their chances of having chronic medical conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. But for some asthmatics, its very complicated to maintain a healthy weight because in many cases, their breathing issues do not allow them to engage in activities that could help them manage their weight.

    Will Aspirin And Other Pain Relievers Make My Asthma Worse

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    Aspirin and other drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be harmful for people who have asthma. Ibuprofen and naproxen are a few examples of NSAIDs. If you are allergic to aspirin, ask your doctor or pharmacist to make sure any new medicine you might take is not related to aspirin.

    People who have asthma can usually take acetaminophen safely. This medicine is typically used to relieve fever and pain. Very rarely, even acetaminophen may make asthma worse, which has prompted further studies to explore the link between acetaminophen and asthma. If acetaminophen makes your asthma worse, tell your doctor. He or she can help you find another type of pain reliever.

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