Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month 2018

Posted on May 10th, 2018

Asthma

According to the CDC, Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs. It causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma can be controlled by taking medicine and avoiding the triggers that can cause an attack.

Asthma Attack

An asthma attack may include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and trouble breathing. The attack happens in your body’s airways, which are the paths that carry air to your lungs. As the air moves through your lungs, the airways become smaller, like the branches of a tree are smaller than the tree trunk. During an asthma attack, the sides of the airways in your lungs swell and the airways shrink. Less air gets in and out of your lungs, and mucous that your body makes clogs up the airways even more.

 Asthma Symptoms

  • Coughing
  • Wheezing (a whistling, squeaky sound when you breathe)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Rapid breathing
  • Chest tightness

Asthma Triggers

  • tobacco smoke
  • dust mites
  • outdoor air pollution
  • cockroach allergens
  • pets
  • mold,
  • smoke from burning wood

Preventing Asthma Episodes and Controlling Your Asthma

For people with asthma, having an asthma management plan is the best way to prevent symptoms. An asthma management plan is something developed by you and your doctor to help you control your asthma, instead of your asthma controlling you. An effective plan should allow you to:

  • Be active without having asthma symptoms.
  • Fully take part in exercise and sports.
  • Sleep all night, without asthma symptoms.
  • Attend school or work regularly.
  • Have the clearest lungs possible.
  • Have few or no side effects from asthma medications.
  • Have no emergency visits or stays in the hospital

Get Your Asthma Management Plan Here

Helpful Links