| Learning About Asthma | ||||
 Symptoms
of AsthmaAn
asthma attack or "episode" Achieve
the following goals |
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Asthma is a chronic lung disease. Although it cannot be cured, asthma can be controlled. People with asthma react to “triggers” such as smoke, colds, and cold air faster and more strongly than people without asthma. That’s because people with asthma have supersensitive airways or lungs. |
The main symptoms of asthma are:
Shortness of breath (winded, can’t catch breath)
Wheezing (breathing is difficult and makes a whistling sound)
Tightness in the chest
Coughing that lasts longer than a weekWheezing may be the symptom you notice most. However not all people with asthma wheeze. For some, coughing may be the only symptom of asthma. Coughing due to asthma usually happens at night or after exercise.
Sometimes, triggers cause an asthma attack called an “episode.” During an asthma episode, symptoms become worse – there is coughing and breathing is very difficult. During an asthma episode it’s hard to breathe because the linings of airways become swollen, the muscles around the airways tighten, making the airways narrower, and a thick mucus forms. It is important to know that treatment can stop your asthma symptoms. And it is important to treat even mild symptoms of asthma to keep them from getting worse.
If you understand how asthma affects your airways, you will better understand why it often takes more than one medicine to treat asthma. For example, while some medicines relax the airways, others reduce (or even prevent) the swelling of airways and mucus buildup, so if you take only one of your prescribed medicines, you may only be treating part of the problem.
To prevent asthma episodes, you will have to work closely with your doctor. You and your doctor can develop an asthma action plan that keeps you symptom-free. You and your doctor can also plan ways to reduce contact with triggers that can cause you to have an episode.
Your doctor should also help you develop a plan in case you do have an asthma episode. Be sure to carry your medicine wherever you go. If you have an episode, you should treat symptoms early, and know when you need the doctor. Seek help right away if your symptoms get worse, not better, after treatment.
With proper treatment for your asthma, you should be able to achieve the following goals:
Stay active without having asthma episodes (this includes exercising and
playing sports),
Sleep through the night without having asthma symptoms,
Reduce or even prevent asthma episodes, and
Reduce any side effects you may have from asthma medicines. |
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