Asthma
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs and causes swelling and mucous formation of the airways, as well as narrowing of the lbronchial tubes which carry air to your lungs. This narrowing of the bronchial tubes (or what is known as bronchospasm), is caused by the tightening of muscles surrounding the airways.
Asthma has increased in prevalence over the past decade, and roughly 14-15 million Americans suffer from asthma, including nearly 5 million children. Almost one in ten children from asthma. Asthma is also a major cause of hospital admissions for children and school absenteeism secondary to illness.
What are the symptoms?
Bronchospasm and excessive mucous secretion in the airways can result in an asthma attack, and lead to
symptoms such as shortness of breathe, wheezing, and a cough. Some people have symptoms rarely, while others have more frequent symptoms.
What are the risk factors for asthma?
Risk factors for asthma include allergies, a family history of asthma, parental smoking, air pollution, and viral infections affecting the lungs, such as RSV or respiratory synctial virus. Males are more commonly affected than females during childhood, but later in life women more commonly have asthma, as well as those of African heritage.
What triggers an asthma attack?
Triggers of asthma, or things that can cause an asthma attack, can include: viruses, allergies, dust, tobacco, perfumes, emotional stress, mold, pollen, heartburn, cold air, pets, aspirin products, and exercise.
How is asthma diagnosed?
A doctor will examine you and take a history of your symptoms to see whether you have asthma. He or she may also order a spirometry or lung function test to check and see how your lungs are working. A peak flow meter, or a handheld device that measures your breathing may be given to you to monitor your symptoms. Allergy testing may also be done since many people with asthma may have worsened symptoms when exposed to specific allergens or triggers. If your doctor deems it necessary, a chest xray, EKG and other tests may be performed to rule other diseases.
What are the different types of asthma?
1) Mild intermittent (this is the kind of asthma that comes and goes)—you have episodes of asthma symptoms twice a week or less, and you are bothered by symptoms at night twice a month or less; between episodes, however, you have no symptoms and your lung function is normal.
2) Mild persistent asthma—is defined as having asthma symptoms more than twice a week, but no more than once in a single day. You also have nighttime symptoms over two times a month.
3) Moderate persistent asthma—you have asthma symptoms every day, and you are bothered by nighttime symptoms more than once a week.
4) Severe persistent asthma—you have symptoms throughout the day on most days, and you have nighttime symptoms often. In severe asthma, your physical activity is likely to be limited by your symptoms.
What are some common medications for asthma?
Asthma is treated by inhaled medications and sometimes pills that are prescribed to you by your doctor. In the hospital setting, injected or intravenous (or I.V.) forms of medicine can also be given to decrease inflammation in your lungs.
Now let me talk about some Quick relief medicines you can use for asthma
Some inhalers (such as albuterol or Proventil) quickly dilate the bronchial tubes. Inhalers such as albuterol are to be used when you are having acute asthma symptoms, or to prevent asthma symptoms when you know you are likely to have an attack. They can quickly help to control your symptoms by opening up your airways to help you breathe better. You may also have a home nebulizer machine, which is a larger device that blows out quick relief medicines through a tube, to treat acute symptoms.
Another category of medicines are Long term medicines which reduce inflammation
Examples of this include steroid inhalers (such as Flovent, or Azmacort) that help to reduce the swelling and mucous secretion in the lungs. Intal or Tilade are mast cell stabilizers that prevent the release of inflammatory substances from immune cells. Non-steroidal pills, such as Singulair or Accolate, can also help to diminish swelling. A medicine called theophylline can also be used to control symptoms, but has numerous side effects and requires monitoring of blood levels. Prednisone or steroid medications can also be given to reduce inflammation during more severe attacks.
Inflammation can cause permanent damage and remodeling of lung tissue, so it is important to take medication as prescribed by your doctor to control these possible long-term effects.
**These are just some examples of treatment options for asthma. Please consult your doctor about which medications are right for you and when you should take them.
How do I use my Quick relief inhaler?
1) Shake the canister.
2)Exhale completely.
3) Sometimes, certain inhalers are used with a spacer, or a long tube that attaches to the canister. If you are using a spacer, seal your lips around it.
4)Press down on the inhaler to release the medicine.
5) Breathe the medicine in slowly ---until your lungs fill with air. Then, hold your breathe and mentally count to ten before you exhale.
6)If you use inhaled dry powder capsules, you must breathe in the medicine quickly rather than slowly
7)If your doctor prescribed several puffs of medicine, wait 1 minute between puffs.
If you have any questions or difficulties, consult your doctor.
Besides taking medication, how else can I control my asthma?
You can also help control your asthma changing your environment:
1) Avoid tobacco smoke in your home or car. If you are a smoker, try to quit smoking! You are making your asthma worse by smoking. If others in your household smoke, make sure to explain to them that their smoking is worsening your health and that they smoke outdoors. Try to use public areas that are non-smoking.
2) If you are allergic to pets, you should seriously consider not having any. If you decide to have pets, try to keep them out of the areas of the house you commonly use.
3) Avoid carpeting and drapes in your home, and eliminate any dust collecting items in your living space if you are sensitive to dust or dust mites. Perform frequent house-cleaning and wash bedsheets at least once a week in hot water (>130 degrees F). You can also vacuum boxsprings and mattresses to eliminate dust, and use airtight covers on mattresses and pillows.
4) Try to avoid flowers, hair sprays, paints, and perfumes since these can trigger an attack in some people.
5) HEPA (High efficiency particulate air) systems, or Ionic Breeze air filtration devices, can greatly reduce the number of allergens that can worsen or trigger asthma. Consider buying one of these devices for your home if possible.
What is a peak flow meter?
You can use a peak flow meter, which is a small device into which you can blow air in order to measure how well you are breathing. The number that you read after blowing into the device is known as your peak expiratory flow, or peak flow. To use the device, blow as hard and fast as you can and measure the reading you get when you are completely symptom free. The best reading you can get when you are symptom-free is considered your “personal best” peak flow reading.
What is an asthma action plan?
Asthma has increased in prevalence over the past decade, and roughly 14-15 million Americans suffer from asthma, including nearly 5 million children. Almost one in ten children from asthma. Asthma is also a major cause of hospital admissions for children and school absenteeism secondary to illness.
What are the symptoms?
Bronchospasm and excessive mucous secretion in the airways can result in an asthma attack, and lead to
symptoms such as shortness of breathe, wheezing, and a cough. Some people have symptoms rarely, while others have more frequent symptoms.
What are the risk factors for asthma?
Risk factors for asthma include allergies, a family history of asthma, parental smoking, air pollution, and viral infections affecting the lungs, such as RSV or respiratory synctial virus. Males are more commonly affected than females during childhood, but later in life women more commonly have asthma, as well as those of African heritage.
What triggers an asthma attack?
Triggers of asthma, or things that can cause an asthma attack, can include: viruses, allergies, dust, tobacco, perfumes, emotional stress, mold, pollen, heartburn, cold air, pets, aspirin products, and exercise.
How is asthma diagnosed?
A doctor will examine you and take a history of your symptoms to see whether you have asthma. He or she may also order a spirometry or lung function test to check and see how your lungs are working. A peak flow meter, or a handheld device that measures your breathing may be given to you to monitor your symptoms. Allergy testing may also be done since many people with asthma may have worsened symptoms when exposed to specific allergens or triggers. If your doctor deems it necessary, a chest xray, EKG and other tests may be performed to rule other diseases.
What are the different types of asthma?
1) Mild intermittent (this is the kind of asthma that comes and goes)—you have episodes of asthma symptoms twice a week or less, and you are bothered by symptoms at night twice a month or less; between episodes, however, you have no symptoms and your lung function is normal.
2) Mild persistent asthma—is defined as having asthma symptoms more than twice a week, but no more than once in a single day. You also have nighttime symptoms over two times a month.
3) Moderate persistent asthma—you have asthma symptoms every day, and you are bothered by nighttime symptoms more than once a week.
4) Severe persistent asthma—you have symptoms throughout the day on most days, and you have nighttime symptoms often. In severe asthma, your physical activity is likely to be limited by your symptoms.
What are some common medications for asthma?
Asthma is treated by inhaled medications and sometimes pills that are prescribed to you by your doctor. In the hospital setting, injected or intravenous (or I.V.) forms of medicine can also be given to decrease inflammation in your lungs.
Now let me talk about some Quick relief medicines you can use for asthma
Some inhalers (such as albuterol or Proventil) quickly dilate the bronchial tubes. Inhalers such as albuterol are to be used when you are having acute asthma symptoms, or to prevent asthma symptoms when you know you are likely to have an attack. They can quickly help to control your symptoms by opening up your airways to help you breathe better. You may also have a home nebulizer machine, which is a larger device that blows out quick relief medicines through a tube, to treat acute symptoms.
Another category of medicines are Long term medicines which reduce inflammation
Examples of this include steroid inhalers (such as Flovent, or Azmacort) that help to reduce the swelling and mucous secretion in the lungs. Intal or Tilade are mast cell stabilizers that prevent the release of inflammatory substances from immune cells. Non-steroidal pills, such as Singulair or Accolate, can also help to diminish swelling. A medicine called theophylline can also be used to control symptoms, but has numerous side effects and requires monitoring of blood levels. Prednisone or steroid medications can also be given to reduce inflammation during more severe attacks.
Inflammation can cause permanent damage and remodeling of lung tissue, so it is important to take medication as prescribed by your doctor to control these possible long-term effects.
**These are just some examples of treatment options for asthma. Please consult your doctor about which medications are right for you and when you should take them.
How do I use my Quick relief inhaler?
1) Shake the canister.
2)Exhale completely.
3) Sometimes, certain inhalers are used with a spacer, or a long tube that attaches to the canister. If you are using a spacer, seal your lips around it.
4)Press down on the inhaler to release the medicine.
5) Breathe the medicine in slowly ---until your lungs fill with air. Then, hold your breathe and mentally count to ten before you exhale.
6)If you use inhaled dry powder capsules, you must breathe in the medicine quickly rather than slowly
7)If your doctor prescribed several puffs of medicine, wait 1 minute between puffs.
If you have any questions or difficulties, consult your doctor.
Besides taking medication, how else can I control my asthma?
You can also help control your asthma changing your environment:
1) Avoid tobacco smoke in your home or car. If you are a smoker, try to quit smoking! You are making your asthma worse by smoking. If others in your household smoke, make sure to explain to them that their smoking is worsening your health and that they smoke outdoors. Try to use public areas that are non-smoking.
2) If you are allergic to pets, you should seriously consider not having any. If you decide to have pets, try to keep them out of the areas of the house you commonly use.
3) Avoid carpeting and drapes in your home, and eliminate any dust collecting items in your living space if you are sensitive to dust or dust mites. Perform frequent house-cleaning and wash bedsheets at least once a week in hot water (>130 degrees F). You can also vacuum boxsprings and mattresses to eliminate dust, and use airtight covers on mattresses and pillows.
4) Try to avoid flowers, hair sprays, paints, and perfumes since these can trigger an attack in some people.
5) HEPA (High efficiency particulate air) systems, or Ionic Breeze air filtration devices, can greatly reduce the number of allergens that can worsen or trigger asthma. Consider buying one of these devices for your home if possible.
What is a peak flow meter?
You can use a peak flow meter, which is a small device into which you can blow air in order to measure how well you are breathing. The number that you read after blowing into the device is known as your peak expiratory flow, or peak flow. To use the device, blow as hard and fast as you can and measure the reading you get when you are completely symptom free. The best reading you can get when you are symptom-free is considered your “personal best” peak flow reading.
What is an asthma action plan?
An asthma action plan is a treatment plan your doctor can give you to help manage your asthma. By using your peak flow meter daily, you can score your asthma. The green zone, which is a peak flow that is 80-100% of your personal best, indicates that your asthma is under control. You should have no symptoms when you are in the green zone.
The yellow zone indicates that your peak flow is 50-80% of your personal best. You may have some symptoms when you are in the yellow zone, and should take the medications written in the action plan as recommended by your doctor. If symptoms persist despite following the medication plan written by your doctor, you should talk to your doctor about possibly changing your yellow zone treatment plan.
If your peak flow is less than 50% compared to your personal best, you are in the red zone. You are likely having a bad asthma attack and are experiencing shortness of breath, wheezing, or coughing. You should see your doctor or go to the hospital immediately for medical help. You should use your fast-acting inhaler (such as albuterol) to help relieve your symptoms. Be sure to take the medications and follow instructions described by your action plan as written by your doctor for the red zone.
The asthma action plan also allows you to log any triggers of asthma, so you can be aware of what things to avoid to prevent asthma attacks.
References:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_WhatIs.html
http://familydoctor.org/014.xml
Domino, Frank. J. 5 Minute Clinical Consult,
Hardbound, 2007. Lipincott, Williams,
and Wilkins, NY, NY.
Copyright 2007, MD Kiosk, Inc.
