Staying Well with Asthma
Tired of asthma leaving you out of breath and feeling sick?
Follow these 3 steps to manage your asthma.
Step 1: Know your asthma medicines
There are 2 kinds of asthma medicines:
- Medicines you take each day. These are called long-term or controller medicines.
- Medicines you take only when you have signs of asthma. These are called quick-relief or rescue medicines.
Talk with your doctor about asthma medicines.
Be sure you know:
- the names of all your medicines.
- what they are used for.
- how to take them and how often.
- side effects that may happen.
- when to call your doctor.
Talk to your doctor and Health Coach about any problems with your medicines.
Step 2: Know asthma symptoms and have a plan
Warning signs may include feeling short of breath, wheezing, or coughing. Talk with your doctor and Health Coach about your plan. Knowing the warning signs that asthma is getting worse and knowing what to do may save your life.
Use a peak flow meter to check your breathing.
You may be using a plastic tool called a peak flow meter to measure how fast you are blowing air out of your lungs. Low air flow can be an early sign of an asthma attack. If you don't have a peak flow meter, ask your doctor if one is right for you. If you have one, be sure you know how to use it.
Step 3: Know what makes asthma worse
You may find that certain things called triggers can bring on an asthma attack. These are possible things that can trigger your asthma:
- stress
- pollen
- dust
- mold
- cold air
- wood smoke
- cigarette smoke
- perfume
- certain foods
Talk with your doctor about ways to learn about and avoid your triggers. Follow steps 1-3 and work togethar as a team with your doctor and Health Coach to help manage asthma.
This page is meant to offer you general information. Talk with your doctor if you want to learn more about asthma. If you need medical help right away, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Source: Health Dialog