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  Managing a Condition | BREATHE -Asthma | Asthma Update

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  If you or your child have asthma, here is some valuable information that you should know. Do you or your child suffer from a chronic persistent cough, especially at night or after a cold? Do you or your child need to use your “quick-relief” inhaler (such as albuterol, ventolin, proventil or maxair) three or more times per week or more than one canister per month? Are you or your child waking up in the middle of the night with asthma symptoms such as wheezing, coughing or tightness in your chest?

  If you answered “yes” to any one of these questions, it might be a sign that your asthma is getting worse and should be re-evaluated by your physician.

  The guideline from the National Institutes of Health¹ says that if you are using your quick-relief inhaler three or more times a week or you’re waking up at night with asthma symptoms more than twice a month, you may need to be taking medication for long-term control. Undiagnosed or under-treated asthma can cause long-term damage to lungs, especially in children².

  Here’s the long and short of it. Quick-relief medications work immediately to relieve the symptoms of an asthma attack. They quickly relax the muscles of the airways to make breathing easier. However, they do not treat the underlying inflammation in your lungs.

  Long-term control medications are generally taken on a daily basis in order to achieve and maintain control of persistent asthma. By taking this medication every day, you can treat the underlying causes of asthma and often prevent asthma attacks from beginning in the first place.

  Only you and your doctor can determine if the use of long-term control medications is right for you. A blank Asthma Action Plan can be downloaded; we encourage you to bring the action plan and this letter with you to your next appointment and use it as a way to discuss treatment options with your doctor.

  To learn more about asthma control call ConnectiCare’s BREATHE program at 1-800-390-3522 to talk with our asthma case manager. To register for one of our free asthma education classes, go to Healthy Happenings . If you attend the class, you will receive a free asthma care kit including a peak flow meter to monitor your asthma at home and an educational video.

  

  ¹National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, NIH/NHLBI NIH Publication No. 97-4051A, May 1997

  ²Robert Miles, M.D., President of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI)

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