1. Respiratory Conditions

Asthma

Asthma is a disease that affects the air passages in the lungs. Exposure to “triggers” (see “Asthma

Attack Triggers” below) causes the airways to narrow. This response is called an “attack” or “episode.”


Signs & Symptoms

  1. •A cough lasts more than a week. Coughing may be the only symptom. It may occur during the night or after exercising.

  2. •Shortness of breath.

  3. •Breathing gets harder and may hurt. It is harder to breathe out than in.

  4. •Wheezing.

  5. •Chest tightness.



Causes

The cause of asthma is not yet known. It tends to run in families and in persons with allergies. Asthma is more common in children who live in houses with pets and/or tobacco smoke.


Asthma Attack Triggers

  1. •Infections, such as colds, flu, bronchitis, and sinus infections.

  2. •Allergens like pollen, dust, mold, animal dander. Irritants like tobacco smoke, air pollution, or fumes.

  3. •Sulfites. These are additives in wine, etc.

  4. •Cold air. Changes in temperature and humidity.

  5. •Exercise, especially in outdoor cold air.

  6. •Some medicines, such as aspirin, betablockers, and ACE inhibitors.

  7. •Strong feelings. These include laughing and crying.



Treatment

Asthma is too complex to treat with over-the-counter products. A doctor should diagnose asthma and keep track of how you are doing. He or she may prescribe medicines. Some are taken with an asthma attack. Some help prevent asthma attacks. Medical treatment includes:

  1. •Anti-inflammatory drugs. These help with swelling in the airways. They are taken as oral \pills or inhaled medicines.

  2. •Bronchodilator drugs. These relax the muscles of the airways and open up the air passages in the lungs.

  3. •Leukotriene modifiers. These oral medicines help reduce chronic swelling in the lungs.

  4. •A peak flow meter. This device helps you monitor your asthma at home.

  5. •A yearly flu vaccine.

Self-Care / Prevention

  1. •Don’t smoke. Don’t let others smoke in your home. Stay away from smoke and air pollution.

  2. •Drink lots of liquids (2 to 3 quarts a day).

  3. •Wear a scarf around your mouth and nose when you are outside in cold weather. Doing this warms the air as you breathe it in and prevents cold air from reaching sensitive airways.

  4. •Stop exercising if you start to wheeze.

  5. •Find out what triggers your asthma and get rid of things that bother you at home and at work.

  6. •Try to keep your bedroom allergen-free.

  7. -Sleep with no pillow or the kind your doctor suggests. Use a plastic or “allergen-free” cover on your mattress and pillow (if you use one).

  8. -Wash mattress pads in hot water every week.

  9. -Use throw rugs, not carpeting. Don’t use drapes.

  10. -If you can, use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Vacuum and dust often. Wear a dust filter mask when you do.

  11. -Don’t use perfumes.

  12. -Put an electronic air filter on your furnace or use portable air purifiers. Change and/or wash furnace and air conditioner filters regularly. If you use a portable humidifier or vaporizer, use distilled (not tap) water.

  13. •Don’t eat foods with sulfites, such as wine and some shellfish.

  14. •Sit up during an asthma attack.

  15. •Keep your asthma rescue medicine handy. Take it as prescribed.

  16. •Use acetaminophen, not aspirin.

Is it so hard for you to breathe that you can’t say 4 or 5 words between breaths, does your chest feel tight, or are you wheezing and can’t stop?

Do you have asthma and use the Peak Flow Zone System and is your peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) below 60% of your personal best number?

Does an asthma attack not respond to home treatment or prescribed medicine or is your peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) 60 to 80% of your personal best number?

Questions to Ask

Do you have signs of an infection, such as a fever, and/or cough with mucus that is green, yellow, or bloody-colored? Or, are your asthma attacks coming more often or getting worse?