What Should I Do If I Think I Have Asthma
If you think that you have asthma, the best thing you can do is see your healthcare provider as soon as possible for proper testing and diagnosis. Many people normalize their symptoms, without ever realizing that a symptom-free life could be possible. Its crucial to never ignore or downplay your asthma symptoms, you never know when something could trigger a potentially fatal asthma attack.
The sooner that you get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan, the sooner you can take control of your asthma and live life to the fullest.
Question 8: Are Your Symptoms Worse When You Are At Work
You answered yes.
You answered no.
- Someone who works in an environment where they are exposed to dust, fumes, certain chemicals or animals, and finds their symptoms flare up at work, may have what is known as occupational asthma, which affects around one in ten people who first develop asthma in adulthood.
- Bakers, vets, nurses, hairdressers, engineers and woodworkers are just some of the jobs that can lead to occupational asthma.
What Are Pulmonary Function Tests
Pulmonary function tests include numerous procedures to diagnose lung problems. The two most common lung function tests used to diagnose asthma are spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide and challenge tests.
Spirometry This is a simple breathing test that measures how much and how fast you can blow air out of your lungs. It is often used to determine the amount of airway obstruction you have. Spirometry can be done before and after you inhale a short-acting medication called a bronchodilator, such as albuterol. The bronchodilator causes your airways to expand, allowing for air to pass through freely. This test might also be done at future doctor visits to monitor your progress and help your doctor determine if and how to adjust your treatment plan.
Exhaled nitric oxide Nitric oxide is a gas that is produced in the lungs and has been found to be an indicator of inflammation. Because asthma is an inflammatory process, this test has become helpful in the diagnosis and management of asthma. The test is performed by having you breathe into a small, handheld machine for about 10 seconds at a steady pace. It then calculates the amount of nitric oxide in the air you breathe out.
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Good News About Asthma
Unlike other respiratory diseases like bronchitis and emphysema, asthma does not tend to cause permanent damage.
There are excellent prescription medications available from your physician and pharmacist to treat asthma either by relieving symptoms or by controlling them on a long term basis and preventing attacks .
You can learn to monitor and predict asthma attacks or prevent them altogether.
You can find out what there is in the environment or in your lifestyle that might bring on or trigger an asthma attack or symptoms and take measures to minimize it.
Asthma is not contagious; you cannot pass it on to someone else like the flu or a cold.
Understanding this health condition and working with your physician on a treatment and prevention plan will give you the power to take part in your own treatment and enjoy a healthy, active life without fear of disability or being hospitalized.
The bottom line is that what you thought was a frightening condition can become nothing more than an occasional inconvenience. All the good news above will become more meaningful as you continue reading the information in this site.
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How Is It Treated
There are two parts to treating asthma, which are outlined in your asthma action plan. The goals are to:
- Control asthma over the long term. Your asthma action plan tells you which medicine to take. It also helps you track your symptoms and know how well the treatment is working. Many people take controller medicineâusually an inhaled corticosteroidâevery day. Taking it every day helps to reduce the swelling of the airways and prevent attacks. Your doctor will show you how to use your inhaler correctly. This is very important so you get the right amount of medicine to help you breathe better.
- Treat asthma attacks when they occur. Your asthma action plan tells you what to do when you have an asthma attack. It helps you identify triggers that can cause your attacks. You use quick-relief medicine, such as albuterol, during an attack.
If you need to use the quick-relief inhaler more often than usual, talk to your doctor. This may be a sign that your asthma is not controlled and can cause problems.
Asthma attacks can be life-threatening, but you may be able to prevent them if you follow a plan. Your doctor can teach you the skills you need to use your asthma action plan.
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Other Common Triggers Include:
- Pollen, dust mites, cockroaches and pet dander; cat dander is worse than dog.
- Inhaling cigarette smoke or having contact with someone who has smoked cigarettes .
- Chemicals including household cleaners, citronella candles and bug sprays.; Colognes and scented lotions are triggers.; Pool chlorine can be a problem;; indoor pools should be avoided as the chlorine is enclosed in the building.; Private pools are much better than public, because public pools tend to have much more chlorine in them.; Beach swimming is better than pool swimming.
- Stress: Even family stress can contribute to your child’s asthma!
- Cold and windy weather.
- Exercise: If your child is prescribed daily medications, make sure theyre taken prior to exercise, especially if your child is physically active.; Also, your child should have ;their inhaler on hand. ;Exercise-induced asthma may be caused by rapid movement of air into the lungs before it is warmed and humidified. This often occurs because of mouth breathing during exercise.
Question 1: Do You Make A Wheezing Sound When You Breathe Out
You answered no.
- Asthma is caused by an irritation of the airways, medically known as the bronchi.
- When they become inflamed, the walls of the bronchi swell and tighten, causing them to narrow.
- They may become coated with mucus, obstructing them further.
- This causes a whistling sound when trying to expel the used air.
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What Is The Best Thing To Do When Having An Asthma Attack
You need to have an asthma action plan. An asthma action plan is a guide that you create with your doctor to treat your asthma, including what to do during an asthma attack. It should also address:
- Medications you should be taking on a daily basis to keep asthma under control, if recommended.
- Symptoms that may be a sign that your asthma is worsening and how to know that you might be having an asthma attack.
- If you think youre having an asthma attack, what medications you should use.
- Information to help you decide when to call your doctor who manages your asthma and when to go directly to the emergency room.
Instructions on using a peak flow meter at home . The device measures your breathing. During an asthma attack, your breathing measurements on the PEF meter will be lower than normal. It can help you determine if you are having an asthma attack.
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Asthma Emergencies In Children
Symptoms of an asthma attack can worsen and develop into an;asthma emergency. To prepare for an asthma emergency, make sure your childs doctor has written an;asthma;action;plan;for your child.;
Have a copy of your childs;asthma;action;plan pinned up somewhere easy to access at home, and send a copy to anyone who cares for your child, including their school, kinder, childcare service, family members and friends. You may like to take a photo of their;asthma;action;plan so you always have a copy with you.;
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What Triggers An Asthma Attack
Different people have different asthma triggers. Most commonly, its either environmental allergens like dust, pollen, and animal dander or air pollutants, like smog, wildfire smoke, or cigarette smoke, says Vandana A. Patel, M.D., medical director for pulmonary rehabilitation and ICU services at Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va., and clinical advisor for online pharmacy Cabinet.
With winter approaching, there’s another factor to keep in mind. “Extremes in weather can also trigger symptoms so, either hot or cold air,” Dr. Sporter adds. Very cold, dry air can cause airways to become irritated and swollen, which worsens asthma symptoms.
Exercise can also trigger asthma in some people, though this is its own branch of the condition , she explains.
Dr. Sporter adds that respiratory infections, especially viruses, are a major trigger in many asthmatics.
What Are The Signs Of An Asthma Attack
Some of the most common symptoms of an asthma attack are trouble breathing, wheezing, a cough , and shortness of breath which can either be difficulty getting air in, or trouble pushing air out, or both. Some people feel pain in their chest, too.
But the symptoms can also be as bad as feeling like you cant catch your breath all the way through to respiratory arrest, Dr. Patel adds.
Both docs agree, there is no single marker of an asthma attack. Its more about looking at the overall picture: When an asthma attack is brewing, patients start to lose control of their asthma, Dr. Sporter explains.
That means feeling things worse than normal, or at a time when you normally dont, like exercising or standing still. Also, waking up at night with asthma symptoms is a very significant sign of poor or worsening asthma control, Dr. Sporter adds.
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Do I Have Greater Risk For Getting Coronavirus If I Have Asthma
In a time when asthma symptoms may be flaring due to weather changes and seasonal spring pollens, people with asthma may worry whether their asthma may put them at risk for getting coronavirus . It can be confusing because both asthma and coronavirus share symptoms of cough and shortness of breath. The good news that the chance of getting coronavirus for anyone with asthma is really no different than for someone without asthma. Getting coronavirus comes down to an individuals exposure to suspected or confirmed cases of coronavirus or to symptomatic carrier of SARS-CoV-2 virus . Therefore, to reduce your risk of getting coronavirus whether you have asthma or not, practice the social distancing, hand washing, mask and glove protection, and surface disinfection that has been promoted by the CDC and public health and infectious disease experts .;
What Should I Do If I Have A Severe Asthma Attack
A severe asthma attack needs immediate medical care. The first step is your rescue inhaler. A rescue inhaler uses fast-acting medicines to open up your airways. Its different than your normal maintenance inhaler, which you use every day. You should only use the rescue inhaler in an emergency.
If your rescue inhaler doesnt help or you dont have it with you, go to the emergency department if you have:
- Anxiety or panic.
- Bluish fingernails, bluish lips or gray or whitish lips or gums .
- Chest pain or pressure.
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And Heres What You Can Expect With Treatment Which Is Generally Either Long
One of the most important ways to treat asthma is to avoid being exposed to your triggers, Dr. Wilgus says. Of course, that can feel impossible if your trigger is something thats seemingly everywhere, like dust or pollen. Though you can definitely take steps to reduce your exposure to those, avoiding them entirely is tough. Luckily, there are medications that can help when youve done everything you can trigger-wise.
Asthma medications generally fall into two categories: long-term preventive medications and fast-acting drugs that can help when youre having an asthma attack or on your way to one. Long-term preventive medications like allergy medications and inhaled anti-inflammatory corticosteroids are designed to help control your asthma so youre less likely to have an asthma attack in the first place, the Mayo Clinic says. Quick-relief medications , like short-acting beta agonists that you use via an inhaler, can help relax your airways when theyre acting up enough that your asthma is noticeably worse.
Whatever you do, dont resign yourself to living with asthma symptoms like trouble breathing and coughing all the time. Asthma is a very controllable illness as long as the signs and symptoms are not ignored, Dr. Parikh says.
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Hows It Different From Regular Asthma
More and more, doctors are coming to see that there’s really no such thing as regular asthma. But something like classic, childhood asthma may look like this:
- Comes on when youre a kid
- Often gets triggered by an allergen, like pet dander or dust mites
- Causes swelling in the airways, and symptoms like wheezing and trouble breathing
- Responds well to treatment with inhaled corticosteroids
When you look at eosinophilic asthma, it:
- Tends to come on in adults
- Isnt usually caused by allergies — people who get it tend not to have allergies
- Causes swelling in your entire respiratory system
- May not seem like asthma at first because the main symptom may involve shortness of breath rather than wheezing
- Doesnt respond well to inhaled corticosteroids, even at high doses
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Why Gerd May Trigger Asthma
One possibility is that the repeated flow of stomach acid into the esophagus damages the lining of the throat and the airways to the lungs. This can lead to breathing difficulties as well as a persistent cough.
The frequent exposure to acid may also make the lungs more sensitive to irritants, such as dust and pollen, which are all known to trigger asthma.
Another possibility is that acid reflux may trigger a protective nerve reflex. This nerve reflex causes the airways to tighten in order to prevent the stomach acid from entering the lungs. The narrowing of the airways can result in asthmatic symptoms, such as shortness of breath.
Asthma Vs Copd Over Time
- Asthma is usually considered a periodic disease. This means symptoms only occur sometimes. COPD is usually considered a persistent disease. This means that symptoms may appear to some degree all the time.
- Periods between asthma attacks may last days, weeks, months, or even years. In this way, asthma can seem to go into remission in some people. COPD flare-ups may also be periodic in this way. But, COPD does not go into remission.
- Asthma usually does not progress over time. COPD is generally considered a progressive disease. But, this progression may be slowed with a proper diagnosis and aggressive treatment.
- Speaking of diagnosis, both diseases may be confirmed with a test called a pulmonary function test . The test will show if triggers cause airflow limitation. It can also show if this airflow limitation is reversible or not reversible .
- Asthma medicines are used to prevent and control asthma symptoms. COPD medicines are used to allay symptoms and slow the progression of the disease.
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Symptoms Of Asthma Attack
Unlike early signs and symptoms, the given symptoms are more actual to know about the asthma attack.
- Speed breathing
- Tightening of neck and chest muscle, thus resulting chest pain
- Uncontrollable cough
- Problematic condition while talking
- Face turning pale
These warning could be worse if neglected. Severity intensifies rapidly. These are the certain symptoms that almost every person with asthma attack experience. Thats why, you need to be more conscious about these symptoms. Those were the clear cut symptoms that will help you to get straight answer on how do you know if you have asthma?
Only recognizing asthma attack is not well enough. Immediate treatment is required. Visiting a doctor, prescribed medication procedure should be practiced. Proper preventive measure must be adopted in order to remain protected from asthma attack.
Signs And Symptoms Of An Asthma Attack
The difference between having asthma and having an asthma attack is the severity of the symptoms. Otherwise, the symptoms, themselves, are mostly the same.;
So, if you have asthma, you will likely have had most of the symptoms of an asthma attack already, just in a milder form, says Troy Madsen, MD, a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Utah.
Some of the most common symptoms of an asthma attack include:
- Extreme shortness of breath
- Tightness in your chest
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There Are Many Different Types Of Asthma Brought On By Many Different Triggers
If youre struggling with asthma symptoms trouble breathing, a persistent cough or tightness in the chest an allergist can help you take control by providing a diagnosis and identifying the underlying causes.;
Learn about the triggers and treatment for allergic asthma and how an allergist can help you manage allergy and asthma symptoms.
What Happens During An Asthma Episode
With normal breathing, the lungs airways are fully open and air can move in and out of the lungs freely.
During asthma, the airway branches leading to your lungs become overly reactive and sensitive. The linings of the airways will swell and become inflamed, mucus will clog the airways, and muscles tighten around the airways . This results in airflow obstruction in the lungs, narrowing the airways and making it difficult to breathe.
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Vaping And Lung Damage
- Talk with your teen about the dangers of vaping.
- Vaping can cause severe lung damage. It can become permanent.
- Vaping can even cause death .
- Vaping tobacco also causes nicotine addiction.
- For these reasons, the legal age to purchase vaping products is 21 in the US.
- Encourage your teen to not start vaping or to give it up.
- Warning: home-made or street-purchased vaping solutions are the most dangerous.