I Know Someone Who Has Asthma And He/she Is Totally Fine
There are different types of asthma, and the severity and triggers vary from one person to another. Some asthma patients can engage in strenuous activities, such as running, without experiencing a symptom. Others have more limited capabilities.
Also, understand that some days may be better than others when it comes to physical activities.
If you have asthma and want to achieve self-management and independence, consider taking training and educational resources from Asthma New Zealand. These are also available for health care workers and specialists.
Get Tested Regularly When You Dont Have Symptoms
Regular testing is important to understand and slow the spread of COVID-19. Self-testing can also help stop asymptomatic people from spreading the virus to other people without them knowing.
Lateral flow tests can be done at home and give you a result in 30 minutes. These tests are for people who dont have COVID-19 symptoms.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, wherever you live in the UK, you should self-isolate and request a PCR test online.
All results from lateral flow tests must be reported, whether the result is positive, negative, or void. Full instructions on how to complete the test and how to report results are given in each pack. How often you should self-test may vary, depending on your circumstances and current national or local guidelines.
Everyone can now get free lateral flow tests for COVID-19. Get a lateral flow test in your area.
Youre Just Being Lazy
This one ties in pretty well with the last one, but Ive lost count of amount of times Ive been told Im lazy for taking the lift rather than the stairs.
Back when I was in college, I had to fight to be allowed to use the lift there. The college had 6 levels and I was all the way up on level 5.
Typical.
The problem was you could only use the lift if you had a disability and originally they didnt consider asthma a valid reason to use it.
That all changed after I collapsed after climbing up the 5 flights of stairs. The first aiders had to be called and they demanded that reception add a lift pass to my student card.
If it wasnt for the fact I couldnt breath, Id have happily shouted I told you so at them!
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Its Just In Your Head
As mentioned earlier, asthma is real. Unfortunately, many people who have asthma are reluctant to seek medical attention because they dont want to be accused of imagining this health condition.
To help your family, workplace, and community understand asthma better and learn to support patients with asthma, you may contact Asthma New Zealand.
Training A New Method
Running a marathon will be very different training regime for me. My previous long events have been Ironman races, which include a swim and ride. While Ill continue to swim and ride once a week for cross training purposes, my total training time will be less than previous events.
My official training will start on the May 1 and will run for the 26 weeks leading up to the race. Many of my training sessions will have a heavy focus on speed work, as I need to increase my running pace in order to complete the race in my time goal.
My coach Doug and I have been working on some new training techniques to increase my speed and so far weve achieved some promising results. Ill be having lung function and exercise stress testing in the near future and again two weeks before the marathon so we can compare results at either end of the training program.
Part of the reason we are adopting some new techniques is to find ways to improve the health of COPD patients in general through exercise. If we can find better ways to train faulty lungs, it would be a great result.
If I can run the New York City Marathon in 5 hrs 45 minutes, then I will be on pace with a lot of people with healthy lungs, and that would be a great step forward for exercise programs for people with COPD.
Im not suggesting that everyone should go and run a marathon, but the exercise theory we develop could possibly be used on many patients.
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What Activities Can I Do Safely If I Am Fully Vaccinated Against Covid
In May 2021, the CDC updated their guidelines for wearing a mask. When fully vaccinated, the CDC stated you can safely resume activities without wearing a mask and staying 6 feet apart.
But in July 2021 CDC provided new guidance due to the delta variant and rising COVID-19 cases. It is now recommended that everyone in areas of high transmission where a mask in public indoor places, even if they are fully vaccinated.
If you have a condition or are taking medicines that weaken your immune system, talk with your doctor about which activities are safe to do.
Research For Your Health
The NHLBI is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health the Nations biomedical research agency that makes important scientific discovery to improve health and save lives. We are committed to advancing science and translating discoveries into clinical practice to promote the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders, including asthma. Learn about the current and future NHLBI efforts to improve health through research and scientific discovery.
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They Are Endangered By Smoking
If youre a smoker, make sure you ask before lighting up a cigarette in the vicinity of an asthma sufferer. They may not complain, but the fact of the matter is that you are not only damaging their health with second hand smoke, but you may be making it very difficult for them to breathe, or even trigger the onset of an asthma attack. So before lighting up, ask them if theyd prefer that you smoke elsewhere. Even if they only suffer mildly from asthma, ensure you are not blowing smoke directly at them, and that the area is well ventilated, this will help to minimize any health risks.
Medical History And Physical Exam
Your doctor will ask about your risk factors for asthma and your symptoms. They may ask also about any known allergies. This includes how often symptoms occur, what seems to trigger your symptoms, when or where symptoms occur, and if your symptoms wake you up at night.
During the physical exam, your doctor may:
- Listen to your breathing and look for symptoms of asthma
- Look for allergic skin conditions, such as eczema
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How Can You Tell If You Have Asthma
It can be hard to tell if someone has asthma, especially in children under age 5. Having a doctor check how well your lungs work and check for allergies can help you find out if you have asthma.
During a checkup, a doctor will ask if you cough a lot, especially at night. He or she will also ask whether your breathing problems are worse after physical activity or at certain times of year. The doctor will then ask about chest tightness, wheezing, and colds lasting more than 10 days. He or she will ask whether anyone in your family has or has had asthma, allergies, or other breathing problems. Finally, the doctor will ask questions about your home and whether you have missed school or work or have trouble doing certain things.
The doctor may also do a breathing test, called spirometry, to find out how well your lungs are working by testing how much air you can breathe out after taking a very deep breath before and after you use asthma medicine.
Take Asthma Medications As Prescribed
Long-term asthma medications are designed to prevent symptoms and attacks. You need to take them every day, even if you donât have symptoms. Theyâll ease inflammation in your airways and keep your asthma under control, so itâs less likely to flare up. If side effects bother you, talk to your doctor about switching to another treatment.
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How Can I Look After My Asthma During The Pandemic
One of the most important things you can do right now is to manage your asthma well. You should make sure that youre seeking help when you need it and trying to book your usual appointments .
Some routine appointments may have been postponed, such as annual reviews. But annual reviews are important to ensure your condition is managed as well as possible and lower your risk of an asthma attack. So do book an annual review as soon as you can.
Emergency care
If you are having an asthma attack, this is an emergency. You must follow the steps on your asthma action plan and get your usual emergency care, including going to A& E or calling 999 if you need to.
Care from your GP
Speak to your GP or asthma nurse if you are getting asthma symptoms three or more times a week.
Follow these four asthma management steps to help you keep well:
Does My Child Need To Wear A Mask
COVID-19 vaccinations are now available in the U.S. for everyone 12 years old and older. Children in this age range should get vaccinated as soon as possible so they are protected from COVID-19.
Children should continue to wear a face mask and stay 3 feet apart in all public spaces, including schools if they are:
- 2 years old and older
- Too young to receive the COVID-19 shot
- Are not fully vaccinated
Children with a disability that keeps them from safely wearing a mask and children under 2 should not wear masks.
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Symptoms Of Exercise Induced Asthma
Some of the symptoms of Exercise Induced Asthma include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, tightening in the chest, fatigue during exercise, and poor athletic poor performance. These can happen during or after exercise. Many people dont realize they have EIA because they think the symptoms are their bodys response to exercise.
My personal symptoms start with a feeling like tingling in my extremities. I always think that they feel like they are not getting enough oxygen. I start to feel weak and my body suddenly needs to slow down. If I try to push through, I feel like the continued lack of oxygen will cause me to faint and even feel like I have encroaching blackness in my peripheral vision.
As asthma attack can be a life threatening occurrence. Get immediate medical help if your symptoms continue to worsen even after using a rescue inhaler or if your symptoms continue after you are finished with your workout.
Identify And Avoid Your Triggers
It’s important to identify possible asthma triggers by making a note of where you are and what you’re doing when your symptoms get worse.
Some triggers can be hard to avoid, but it may be possible to avoid some, such as dust mites, pet fur and some medicines.
You’ll have regular contact with your doctor or asthma nurse to monitor your condition.
These appointments may involve:
- talking about your symptoms for example, if they’re affecting your normal activities or are getting worse
- a discussion about your medicines including if you think you might be experiencing any side effects and if you need to be reminded how to use your inhaler
- breathing tests
It’s also a good chance to ask any questions you have or raise any other issues you want to discuss.
You may be asked to help monitor your condition between appointments. For example, you may be advised to check your peak flow if you think your symptoms may be getting worse.
Your personal action plan should say what to do if your symptoms get gradually or suddenly worse. Contact your doctor or asthma nurse if you’re not sure what to do.
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What Should I Do If My Friend Is Having An Asthma Flare
What should I do if my friend is having an asthma flare-up? Zahara*
An asthma flare-up can be scary, both for the person having it and anyone who sees it happening. A friend who knows how to handle the situation can be a big help.
Here’s what to do:
- Stay calm and be reassuring. Help your friend relax. If someone who is having a flare-up panics, it can make it even harder to breathe.
- Take your friend away from any possible asthma triggers, like smoke.
- Have your friend sit upright. Lying down might make breathing more difficult.
- If your friend can talk, ask what his or her asthma action plan says to do during a flare-up. If your friend is able to tell you, follow the plan.
- If your friend can’t speak or doesn’t remember what to do, ask if he or she has an inhaler to use during flare-ups. If so, get the inhaler and help your friend to use it.
- an inhaler is not available
- your friend is having trouble talking or is struggling to breathe
- your friend’s lips are turning blue
- your friend becomes unconscious
- the inhaler doesn’t help
Friends can be the first line of defense for someone who is having an asthma flare-up. So it’s great that you want to be prepared!
*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.
What Is An Asthma Action Plan
Your healthcare provider will work with you to develop an asthma action plan. This plan tells you how and when to use your medicines. It also tells you what to do if your asthma gets worse and when to seek emergency care. Understand the plan and ask your healthcare provider about anything you dont understand.
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My Journey As An Asthmatic Marathon 25000 Down The Road
The Beginning
When I was 7 years old, I was diagnosed as having asthma. It was a bit of a trial and error process over the next few years as we figured out what my triggers were and we finally figured it was many of the usual suspects dust, molds, strong odors like paint/glue, and exercise.
Those various triggers kept me from pursuing some things when I reached my teenage years that I had really wanted to try out. When I was 16 years old, I experienced the worst year of having asthma yet with multiple trips to the emergency room by ambulance due to different things triggering my asthma and the breathing difficulty.
Some of those experiences were complicated by anxiety. My doctor told me to tell anyone that wondered to take a straw and to try breathing through it to see what it was like to have an asthma problem. While I had not liked to hear that I was having anxiety issues, it did help me to be able to try and get the breathing and attacks under control before letting the anxiety of not breathing normal kick in. I was able to learn to deal with that a bit more and that helped me significantly.
Why Running?
My sport as a kid was baseball. I loved playing it and because it was not excessive exercise all at once, I was able to play it without any significant issues. But, I wanted to try running since I saw how much other people enjoyed it. The problem was that running even a few hundred yards would cause me to start wheezing after a bit. So, that was that or so I thought.
They Have A Harder Time With Coughs And Colds
Asthmatics frequently suffer from inflamed airways, this means that coughs and colds can be particularly distressing for asthma sufferers. If you live with somebody with asthma, it can be helpful to gently encourage them to adopt a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, this will help to bolster the immune system against coughs and colds, and provide them with the vitamins and minerals essential for a healthy lifestyle. Its also important to keep a good stock of cough and cold medicines to ease them through any illness, although be cautious of medicines which can have a negative impact on asthma sufferers.
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You Should Try Fill In Blank Thatll Help You Feel Better
I should try yoga, acupuncture, vitamins, probiotics, or salt therapy. Look, if that cured asthma, doctors would prescribe them. But they dont, because they dont work. If they did work, asthma would have been cured long ago, and we wouldnt be here.
So, what are some things you think shouldnt be said to someone living with asthma?
Watch How To Help Someone Who Is Having An Asthma Attack
What is asthma?
Asthma is a medical condition that affects the airways the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs. When someone has an asthma attack, these tubes become narrowed, making it difficult to breathe in and out.
How can I tell if someone is having an asthma attack?
People with asthma should be able to let you know if they are having an attack.
Someone having an asthma attack will have difficulty breathing and speaking, and may cough and wheeze. They may be very anxious and distressed as they struggle to breathe.In some cases, their lips, earlobes and nail beds may turn greyish-blue because there isnt enough oxygen in their body.
What sort of medication will someone with asthma use?
Someone who has asthma will normally have an inhaler that their doctor has prescribed. They may also have a spacer, which makes the inhaler more effective.
If someone is having an asthma attack they should know how to use their inhaler and spacer but they may need your help in finding them.
What does an inhaler look like?
Inhalers can come in many different sizes and shapes. Inhalers to relieve asthma attacks are usually blue. Inhalers that prevent asthma attacks may be brown or white.
How do you use an inhaler?
If a person has asthma they should know how to use their inhaler, they may need your help getting it for them. They should take it as normal. If that doesnt help they can take one or two puffs every 30 or 60 seconds until theyve had 10 puffs.
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