Well Controlled Asthma Means Meeting Your Goals
- No coughing or wheezing
- No difficulty breathing or chest tightness
- No waking up at night due to asthma symptoms
- Not having to use a rescue inhaler or more times a week for symptoms
- Being able to do whatever activity you want, without limitations and without symptoms
- Not missing school or work days due to asthma symptoms
- Taking your prescribed medicines without having side effects
If your asthma is well controlled, youll be able to avoid urgent visits to the emergency room or urgent care center and urgent visits to your clinic. Well controlled asthma means youre doing all the things youre supposed to! Uncontrolled or Very Poorly Controlled asthma can happen when youre not taking your medicines the way your provider prescribed them or youre skipping doses. Many people take asthma medications once or twice a day. Some people dont need a daily medicine but EVERYONE who has asthma should have a rescue inhaler with them at all times.
Treatment Of Asthma Flare
If you have one, review your Asthma Action Plan. A flare-up of asthma is common and can be triggered by many things. It is important to discuss how to treat flare-ups with your doctor. Your doctor may have you follow his or her Asthma Action Plan, or one of the many Asthma Action Plans available on the Internet. If chest tightness, coughing, or wheezing occurs, albuterol or one of the other bronchodilators should be used. You can use it safely 3-4 times consecutively with 20-minute intervals between each treatment. If there is no improvement, an oral steroid may then be used. The oral steroid will help recruit beta receptors and reduce inflammation in the bronchials. This means that the receptors in the lungs responsible for opening the bronchials will increase in number, resulting in stronger bronchodilation . The inflammation in the lungs will also resolve sooner.
Once the oral steroid is used, albuterol can be used with increased frequency, but efforts to reduce the frequency and increase the amount of time between treatments should be made. The bronchodilators can make your heart race or cause you to feel shaky or hyper, so frequent use of a bronchodilator needs to be discussed with a doctor. Oral steroids may be needed for several days once started, so your physician will prescribe the appropriate amount for you. If you require the bronchodilator more than 4 to 6 times in a day, you may be suffering an asthma flare-up, which should be discussed with your physician.
What Happens In An Asthma Flare
Asthma is a disease of the breathing tubes that deliver air in and out of the lungs. When someone has asthma, these airways might be slightly inflamed or swollen, even when the person seems to be breathing fine.
During a flare-up:
- The inflammation gets worse. Sticky mucus clogs the airways and their walls get more swollen.
- The muscles around the airways get tight, further narrowing them .
These problems leave very little room in the airways for air to flow through think of a straw that’s being pinched.
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Managing Your Work Life With Asthma
Asthma can affect your ability to do some jobs and work in certain environments. But it shouldnt stop you from doing your job.
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology , as much as 15.7 percent of all asthma in adults is work-related. Any number of things youre exposed to every day at work may trigger symptoms, including cleaning products, paint, dust , mold, insects, and cigarette smoke.
If you are experiencing asthma flares at work, the AAAAI advises working with your doctor and employer to identify your triggers and take measures to avoid your exposure as soon as possible, since long-term exposure to allergens could lead to permanent lung damage.
Let your supervisor know if youre experiencing a problem, says Grayson. They may be able to take measures, like asking coworkers near you not to wear strong perfumes if thats a trigger, finding alternative chemicals or materials, ventilating your workspace, or eliminating sources of mold.
The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal law that gives people with disabilities the right to ask for accommodations in cases where policies, practices, or conditions leave you at a disadvantage . The ADA mandates that employers must make reasonable accommodations to allow employees to work safely, though in some cases, there may be limited options, Williams explains .
Asthma Allergies And Covid
Throughout the pandemic, having asthma was considered a risk factor for severe COVID-19. But new data show that people with asthma are relatively protected from severe COVID-19, said Geoffrey Chupp, MD, professor of medicine in the Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine at Yale School of Medicine .
We looked at 8,000 hospital admissions of patients with COVID-19, and we found that the patients who were diagnosed with asthma about 10% of the patients were more likely to survive compared to those people who didnt have asthma, Chupp said. He emphasized that the patients had asthma, not smoking-related lung diseases such as emphysema and COPD.
Its possible that some of the medications used for asthma helped to reduce the inflammation that COVID-19 causes, Chupp said. Its also likely that the type of immune response most asthmatics have, the allergic response, protected them from severe lung damage, he added.
However, after these patients recovered from COVID-19, their asthma became reactivated. As they healed, their natural immune response came back with more activity, explained Chupp. Were seeing a fair amount of post-COVID uncontrolled asthma. Most people do well but some have this persistence, a kind of long-hauler problem, although most of them will get better with time.
Asthma, Allergies & Pollen
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Asthma: 10 Common Questions Answered
For most parents and kids, spring means sunny warm weather, outdoor sports and more outside playtime. For many others, spring also means more asthma flare-ups more time outside means more exposure to asthma triggers, and more sports means more exercise-induced asthma.
Although childhood asthma is common, many people really dont know much about it. So we thought wed answer some common questions about what asthma is and how its treated.
Managing Your Asthma Flare
Am Fam Physician. 1998 Jul 1 58:109-113.
See related article on asthma.
To keep your asthma under control, you need to know what to do when you have a flare-up of symptoms . First, you need to know the symptoms that tell you your asthma is getting worse . Second, you need to know how to treat your asthma when it gets worse. Early treatment of flare-ups works the best and will help get your asthma under control quickly.
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Why Asthma Can Be Worse In Winter And Steps To Manage Attacks
Asthma is a chronic condition that affects nearly 25 million people in America. Its a respiratory disease that makes breathing difficult and often comes with lung spasms, wheezing, and chest tightness.
Your lungs are made of bronchi that transport air to and from your lungs. If you have asthma, your airways are easily inflamed. Inflamed airways swell, closing your breathing passages and making it hard for air to reach your lungs.
Changes in your environment like weather, dust, and smoke can make your lungs extra sensitive. For many asthmatics, winter weather brings more frequent asthma attacks. The doctors at Wasatch Peak Family Practice can help you find an asthma treatment plan that works with your lifestyle.
One of the best things you can do to prevent and manage asthma attacks in winter is to understand your triggers and know your treatment plan. Let us help you understand your asthma and how to control it.
Emotions In Children And Asthma
For some kids, giggling, laughing or crying can bring on their asthma.
International studies of people with asthma report laughter is a common trigger for people with asthma.
Other big emotions such as crying, anger, excitement and surprise can also lead to symptoms.
For many people with asthma, stress is a trigger. And there are strong interlinkages between asthma, anxiety and depression.
This means when it is back to school time, some children may feel more stress at their new surroundings and fresh environment than others. For example, the idea of a new teacher, new classroom, being in a class without friends, having to catch a bus by themselves or being bullied are just some of the concerns which may come to mind.
It is important to listen and talk to your child, the school and or your childs teacher and support network to ensure your child is happy at school.
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Why Asthma Management Is Important
Medication is essential to manage asthma well. Good asthma care also involves treating other conditions that can affect asthma, such as hay fever.
A healthy lifestyle can help you stay in control of your asthma symptoms and feel well.With good asthma management, you can lead a normal, active life. Following your personal written asthma action plan, developed with your doctor, is the best way to keep your asthma under control.
An action plan provides simple instructions for routinely managing your asthma, plus advice on what to do if your asthma symptoms flare up.The main aims of asthma treatment are to:
- keep symptoms under control
- keep lungs as healthy as possible
- stop asthma from interfering with school or work
- help you or your child enjoy a full and active life.
Your Gp Or Asthma Nurse Can Help Your Asthma Symptoms
Theres a lot your GP or asthma nurse can do to help stop symptoms building up to an asthma attack. Book an appointment now to get the support you need to lower your risk.
Your GP/asthma nurse can:
- Talk to you about why your asthma symptoms have got worse
- Check youre taking your preventer medicine every day. If you havent been taking it regularly, they can suggest ways to get into a good routine with it so its easier to remember.
- Look at your inhaler technique to make sure youre getting the medicine you need
- Suggest a higher dose, or more puffs, of your preventer inhaler for a while
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What Are The Symptoms Of An Asthma Flare
Common symptoms are coughing, shortness of breath , a feeling of tightness in the chest and wheezing. It’s important to watch yourself every day for symptoms of asthma. You may have only one or two of these symptoms.
Another clue that your asthma is flaring up is that you have to take extra doses of your quick-relief asthma medicine more than twice a week because of these symptoms.
Eczema And Food Sensitivity
There are a few key things that may cause an immune imbalance. The first is food sensitivity. Most of the medical community thinks food isnt related to eczema, but I find thats not true clinically. About 30 percent of eczema cases are connected to diet in some way. Wheat and dairy are the most common culprits, but nuts, soy, dairy and eggs are also common food sensitivities. To find out if food might be a trigger for you, I would suggest an elimination diet, where you cut out foods that are commonly associated with sensitivies for three weeks and then reintroduce them one by one, leaving at least 72 hours between each one to watch out for signs of a reaction.
Next, since the microflora in the gut is intricately tied to the immune system, I would recommend supplementing with probiotics and taking certain herbal medicines, which have antifungal or antibacterial properties to help balance the organisms in the digestive tract. You can also support your bodys natural elimination process with natural remedies, such as herbs for the liver, cranberries for the kidneys and fibre-filled chia or flaxseed for regular bowel movements. We would also talk about your sugar intake because sugar feeds immune-disrupting organisms in the gut.
Finally, we would discuss stress, which impacts the immune system, and I would work with you to develop a stress-management plan. For some people, exercise works best for others, it might be counselling, prayer or practicingyoga.
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Path To Improved Well Being
Your doctor will give you a peak flow meter to monitor your asthma. Use it regularly. Keep a log of your results. The meter is a plastic tube that you blow into several times a day. It checks how well your lungs are working. The results tell you when you need to take extra medicine or call your doctor.
Stay in good, overall health. Maintain a good weight and eat a balanced diet. Get regular exercise. If you smoke, quit. Avoid secondhand smoke.
Arm Yourself Against Fall Allergy And Asthma Flare
Asthma can be a tricky condition, as itâs different for every patient. Your child may constantly deal with asthma symptoms year-round or have no issues until the start of fall.
Fall is a prime time for asthma flare-ups for many reasons. Two common causes are from dry air and rising pollen levels. These seasonal changes can trigger allergic asthma flare-ups for your child.
Lucky for you, we at Night Watch Pediatric Urgent Care have your back. Dr. Ravneet Dhaliwal and our team of pediatric specialists treat asthma flare-ups in children. Hereâs a primer of what you can do to prevent these attacks.
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Why Have Your Asthma Symptoms Got Worse
Before your appointment, have a think about your symptoms and why you think theyve got worse. Itll help you and your GP to work out whats going on with your asthma.
Ask yourself these questions to help you:
Have I been taking my preventer inhaler every day?
Preventer medicines stop inflammation building up in your airways. But they can only do this if you take them every day.
If you stop taking them you wont have full protection. And your symptoms will come back.
Have you been taking yours every day? Or have you found it hard to get into a good routine?
Do I know the best way to take my inhalers?
Even if youve been taking an inhaler for years, its easy to slip into bad habits. If you havent been taking your inhaler correctly you will have been missing out on the full dose of asthma medicine.
Are you confident youre taking your inhalers in the right way? Watch our inhaler videos to see if youre doing it right. And ask your GP or asthma nurse to check it at your appointment.
Have I been around more of my usual asthma triggers?
Maybe youve caught a cold, or its pollen season and your hay fevers bad. Think about your usual triggers and if they might be affecting you more.
Have I come across a new trigger?
Have you been around an animal or pet? Did you start a new job, or go on holiday? Tell your doctor if youve spotted a new trigger. They can help you deal with it.
What else has been going on in my life lately?
Have I noticed hormonal changes?
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How To Manage Your Asthma Flare Up
If you notice your asthma symptoms worsen, the first you need to reach out for is your inhaler. The typical dose is around three to four puffs every 20 minutes, for up to three doses in total. If you have a home nebulizer, a dose would be one treatment.
Your doctor will likely have given you an asthma management plan to give you more control over your symptoms. Here what you need to know.
- If you’re feeling fine , just keep taking your anti-inflammatory medication
- If you’re starting to show mild symptoms of a flare up use your quick-relief rescue medication in addition to the anti-inflammatory drugs youre taking
- If your symptoms are getting severe, use your quick-relief rescue medication as you seek emergency care
- Don’t lie down if you have a flare up instead, do some breathing exercises to help the air stay in your lungs’ passageways for longer
- Go for a medical check-up from time to time to ensure that your medication is still working as it should or get it adjusted if need-be
Tips To Keep Your Asthma Symptoms Under Control
If you have asthma or know someone who has asthma, then you know how tough it can be to live with the condition.
Many of us have at least one relative who suffers from asthma and know first-hand how debilitating it can be.
Several triggers could make asthma worse and aggravate your symptoms. You could have a tough time catching your breath. There is no doubt that asthma has its share of dangers.
Here, well discuss how you can keep your asthma under control.
So lets get started, shall we?
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