| |
|
|
Understanding
Asthma
The Basics
You may not think of asthma as a killer disease, but about ten people die from asthma each week. The sad fact is that adequate treatment could prevent eight of these ten deaths.
Asthma is a lung condition that causes your bronchi (the main airways in the lungs) to become swollen and inflamed. If you have asthma, you are more sensitive than other people to substances in the environment. More than 2.4 million Canadians deal with asthma on a daily basis, making this chronic condition the leading cause of missed school days and the third most common cause of lost work days. Although asthma can’t be cured, it can be controlled with proper diagnosis and care.
|
 |
When you inhale one of these substances, the muscles in your lungs tighten, which narrows your air passages and makes breathing difficult. At the same time, the cells in your lungs swell and produce more mucus, which clogs your bronchial tubes and contributes to your breathing problems. Substances that cause this to happen are known as triggers, because they trigger the reaction. Common asthma triggers include dust mites, mould, pollen, and certain chemicals used in food processing and feather bedding.
What are the symptoms?
Asthma symptoms can vary in severity, but they must always be taken seriously even when they seem to be mild. The key symptoms include:
- wheezing
- coughing
- chest tightness
- rapid, shallow breathing or difficulty breathing
- sleep disturbance
- shortness of breath
- tiring quickly during exercise
Some people with asthma rarely have symptoms; others experience severe symptoms on a daily basis. The frequency of symptoms may change over time, and some factors can worsen the symptoms of an asthma attack. These include:
- having a cold or other type of respiratory illness
- exercising, especially if the air is cold and dry
- smoke (from tobacco or fires)
- air pollution
- exposure to allergens, such as dust mites or animal dander
- exposure to chemicals
- crying or laughing hard
- changes in hormones, such as those involved in pregnancy and menstrual periods
- some medications
- food allergies
- time of day—for example, some people have symptoms that worsen at night
Who is likely to get asthma?
There are certain risk factors that increase your likelihood of developing asthma. You can control some of these factors through healthy lifestyle choices. Controllable risk factors include:
- Obesity: If you are overweight, you have a greater chance of developing asthma.
- Tobacco use: People who smoke have a higher risk of developing asthma. Pregnant women who smoke also increase the risk of wheezing in their babies.
- Allergens: Exposure, especially in infancy, to indoor allergens (substances that trigger an allergic reaction) such as dust mites, animals, and cockroaches may increase your risk of developing asthma.
- Exposure to inhaled irritants: People who inhale chemical substances (such as household chemicals and those sometimes found in the workplace) have a higher risk of developing asthma.
Risk factors that are beyond your control include:
- Family history: Asthma is believed to have a genetic link. That means children whose parents have asthma are at greater risk for developing the condition.
- Gender: Asthma affects twice as many boys as girls in childhood. During the teenage years, more girls than boys develop asthma. In adulthood, men and women have an equal chance of developing asthma.
- History of allergy: Asthma is more common among people who have allergies; however, not all people with allergies develop asthma.
- Age: Asthma is more common among children than adults.
- Other health issues: Low birth weight and respiratory infections in infancy also go hand-in-hand with asthma. Adults who have inflamed nasal passages (rhinitis) have a higher-than-average risk of developing asthma.
Diagnosing the Problem
There is no single test that can diagnose asthma with certainty. If you are experiencing what you think are asthma symptoms, make an appointment with your family physician. Diagnosis is based on a physical exam, a medical history that evaluates your symptoms, laboratory tests, and lung function tests.
Spirometry is the lung function test most commonly used to determine if you have asthma. It measures how quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs and how much air is moved. This test helps your doctor determine whether your air flow is blocked as a result of inflamed bronchial tubes.
The main treatment to control asthma involves a careful balance of medications and lifestyle strategies. Once you’ve been diagnosed with asthma, it can take some time to determine which medications and dosages will best manage your symptoms. Asthma medications are designed to minimize the airway inflammation and to treat airway narrowing. Using the prescribed medications properly is an absolute must. Your pharmacist can help you understand how to take your medicine, the proper dosages, and any side effects you might experience.
Some asthma medicines are taken on a regular basis for long-term control of the condition and to help prevent symptoms (often referred to as preventer medicines); others are taken only when needed for quick relief of symptoms once they occur (often called reliever or rescue medicines).
The most commonly used types of preventer medications are:
- Inhaled corticosteroids reduce the inflammation in the tubes that carry air to the lungs and decrease mucus in the bronchial tubes, making it easier to breathe.
- Long-acting beta2-agonists open up the constricted airways to make breathing easier.
- Leukotriene receptor antagonists, also known as leukotriene modifiers, reduce inflammation, which, in turn, reduces symptoms.
- Cromolyn and nedocromil, although not effective for everyone, can help prevent attacks in mild and moderate asthma.
- Theophylline can be helpful in relieving nighttime symptoms, but it can cause unpleasant side effects and requires regular blood testing.
Quick-relief medications, which are used as needed, include:
- Short-acting beta2-agonists start to work within minutes and usually last about four to six hours.
- Anticholinergic medications act quickly, but are usually reserved for urgent situations.
- Oral and intravenous corticosteroids treat acute asthma attacks or severe asthma, but long-term use can cause serious side effects.
It is important not to overuse quick-relief medications, because this can actually worsen asthma. It can also cause people to delay getting medical care, which increases the chances of having a severe asthma attack.
Helping Yourself
Although there is no cure for asthma, there are a number of steps you can take to manage this condition and maintain a good quality of life. Work closely with your health care team to determine which medications work best for you and what lifestyle strategies you can use to improve your condition.
The following self-help tips can help you control your asthma:
- Keep a diary of your symptoms to identify what triggers your asthma attacks. Once you know what your triggers are, you can take steps to avoid them.
- Have a plan in place before you need it so that you will know what step to take in the event of an asthma attack.
- If your pet triggers your symptoms, try to find a new home for it. If that isn’t possible or if you simply can’t bear to part with it, limit the places in your home where the animal is allowed to go—especially keep it out of your bedroom.
- Quit smoking and turn your home into a smoke-free zone.
- When pollen counts are high, try to stay indoors in a place that is air conditioned. Use air filters on your furnace and air conditioner, keep them clean, and replace them regularly.
- If cold air is a trigger for you, cover your mouth and nose with a scarf when you go outside during the winter months.
- Wash all bedding, clothes, and stuffed toys at least once a week in hot water to kill dust mites.
- Use a dehumidifier in damp areas such as basements and bathrooms to reduce mould build-up.
- Wash your hands regularly and try to avoid contact with anyone who has a cold, the flu, or other respiratory illness.
- Get a flu shot in the fall.
- Work with your health care team to come up with a medication regimen that will allow you to exercise.
Asthma is a chronic condition that requires continuous attention. By making a daily commitment to managing your asthma, you can lead a healthy, active life.
If you have any questions about asthma or ways to manage it, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.
The material in this pamphlet has been supplied by a professional medical writer. It is intended for information purposes only and should not be used in place of consultation with a health care professional. Axis Pharmacy is not responsible for errors, omissions, or inconsistencies with respect to the information contained in this pamphlet and does not accept any liability whatsoever for reliance by the reader on the information contained herein.
© Promo-Ad & Associates Inc., 2005
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
