Asthma-Lung Information
Keep a record of how often you wheeze,cough,feel short of breath and/or use your “rescue” inhaler .This record helps guide your physician in making key treatment decisions.
Certain medications may worsen your asthma.These may include common pain relievers such as aspirin,ibuprofen,naproxen and beta blockers,commonly used to treat high blood pressure and migraine headaches.
Inhaled medications are the cornerstone of asthma treatment. Learning to use your inhaler correctly is essential to a successful treatment plan.
A yearly flu shot is recommended for all asthmatics.
Symptoms
How do I know if I have asthma, what are the symptoms?
Inflammation from asthma makes the airways smaller and therefore makes it more difficult for air to move in and out of the lung.
Asthma can be a tricky disease to pinpoint for a number of reasons, including the fact that there are other respiratory ailments with overlapping symptoms, and some adults and children can seem symptom free for long-periods of time but then experience intermittent asthma "attacks."
Watch for symptoms that can clue you in to seek the advice of a physician. These include:
* Coughing. This could be constant or just intermittent. Not all children who have the disease exhibit symptoms each and every day.
* Wheezing or a whistling sounds audible when you exhale.
* Shortness of breath or rapid breathing. This may or may not be associated with exercise.
* Chest tightness.
Other symptoms can include:
* Fatigue—feeling a need to slow down, stop playing or feeling easily irritated.
* A young child may say his chest "hurts" or "feels funny."
* Infants may have problems feeding and may grunt during suckling.
* Older children may avoid activities such as sports or sleepovers.
* problems sleeping because of nighttime coughing or difficulty breathing.
Who develops asthma?
While there are no clear markers to predict who will develop asthma and who won’t, studies have shown that factors associated with the onset of asthma symptoms in children include:
* Infants and young children who wheeze with viral upper respiratory infections.
* Allergy. The relationship between asthma and allergies is very strong. If your child has allergies, be on the alert for potential signs of childhood asthma.
* A family history of asthma and/or allergy.
* Perinatal exposure to tobacco smoke and allergens
No two people have exactly the same asthma symptoms or outcomes. It’s a very individualized disease. The bottom line is to watch your child or your symptoms and listen to the observations. If you suspect asthma, get an examination and test by a knowledgeable physician. It can make all the difference.
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