Living With Asthma
If you have asthma, it is important to learn how to
take care of yourself. Work with your doctor on a daily asthma self-management
plan that you are both happy with.
- Tell your doctor about all other medications you
are taking, in case one of them affects your asthma.
- Follow your asthma self-management plan and have
regular checkups.
- Learn to use your medication correctly. Ask your
doctor to teach you how to use your inhaler. This is very important. If you do
not use your inhalers correctly, less medication will get into your airways.
- If you are having problems taking your asthma
medicine, let your doctor know right away.
You need to know what things bring on your asthma
symptoms. Then do what you can to avoid or limit contact with these things.
- If animal dander is a problem for you, keep your
pet out of the house or at least out of your bedroom, or find it a new home.
- Do not smoke or allow smoking in your home.
- If pollen is a problem for you, stay indoors with
the air conditioner on, if possible, when the pollen count is high.
- To control dust mites, wash your sheets,
blankets, pillows, and stuffed toys once a week in hot water. You can get
special dust proof covers for your mattress and pillows.
- If cold air bothers you, wear a scarf over your
mouth and nose in the winter.
- If you have symptoms when you exercise or do
routine physical activities like climbing stairs, work with your doctor to find
ways to be active without having asthma symptoms. Physical activity is
important.
- If you are allergic to sulfites, avoid foods
(like dried fruit) or beverages (like wine) that contain them.
Be alert for warning signs of an asthma attack.
- Watch for symptoms (for example, coughing,
wheezing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing) and use your quick-relief
medicine as directed by your doctor.
- Use your peak flow meter as directed to monitor
your asthma.
If your asthma is not under control, there will be
signs that you should not ignore. The following are some signs that your asthma
is getting worse:
- You have asthma symptoms more often than usual.
- Your asthma symptoms are worse than they used to
be.
- Your asthma symptoms are bothering you a lot at
night and making you lose sleep.
- You are missing school or work because of your
asthma.
- Your peak flow number is low or varies a lot from
day to day.
- Your asthma medicines do not seem to be working
very well anymore.
- You have to use your short-acting quick-relief,
or "rescue," inhaler more often. (Using quick-relief medicine every day or
using more than one inhaler a month is too much.)
- You have to go to the emergency room or doctor
because of an asthma attack. You end up in the hospital because of your asthma.
If your asthma seems to be getting worse, see your
doctor. You may need to change your medicines or do other things to get your
asthma under control.
Helping Your Child Live With Asthma
Children with asthma need the help of parents, other
caregivers, teachers, and health care professionals to keep their asthma under
control.
You can help your child with asthma keep it under
control. For example, you can:
- Take your child to the doctor for regular
checkups and treatment.
- Make sure your child has an asthma
self-management plan and that you know how to follow it.
- Help your child learn about asthma and how to
control it.
- Help your child learn what things cause his or
her asthma symptoms and how to avoid them, if possible.
- Protect your child from tobacco smoke by not
smoking and not allowing people to smoke in your home.
- Find ways to reduce your child's exposure to
allergens that bring on asthma attacks, like pollen, dust mites, cockroaches,
or animal dander.
- Make sure your child knows how to take asthma
medicines correctly (if your child is old enough to use an inhaler without your
help).
- Make sure that your child uses a peak flow meter
to help monitor and control asthma.
- Encourage your child to take part in physical
activity. Work together to keep his or her asthma under control. Your child can
be active.
- Talk to your child's other caregivers, teachers,
or coaches about his or her asthma; give them copies of your child's asthma
self-management plan.
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