Asthma is a chronic disorder of
the airways that causes distressing and recurrent episodes of wheezing,
breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. It is currently
thought that asthma produces its effects by leading to airway inflammation
and airflow limitation. Airways are the passages that carry air to
the lungs. As the airways progress through the lungs, they become smaller
and smaller, like branches of a tree. The sides of the airways
become swollen and muscles around the airways constrict, during an attack
or episode. This causes less air to pass in and out of the lungs.
Asthma can be difficult to
diagnose in infants, young children, the elderly, smokers, workers exposed
to chemical inhalants, people with seasonal asthma, and people with
recurrent acute respiratory infections. Regular physical exams that
include measurements of lung function and evaluations of a patient’s
allergic status can help ensure a proper diagnosis. Open
communication with health care providers is essential to the diagnosis and
appropriate management of asthma. If you suspect you or someone in
your family has asthma, you should discuss your symptoms with your PMP.
Individual’s diagnosed with asthma should prepare an Asthma Management
Plan with their primary medical provider (PMP). Asthma affects
different people in different ways and in different levels of severity.
The best plan will take into consideration
the severity of the
person’s asthma, the benefits and risks of each treatment, and personal
preferences. It is very important that a person diagnosed with
asthma develops a management plan that they can follow.
Asthma sufferers will come
to know their personal “triggers” for an attack. Below is a list of
some common indoor triggers and tips on preventing attacks due to them.
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Control dust and dust mites in the bedroom.
Dust mites are tiny organisms that thrive in soft materials, like
pillows, mattresses, carpets, and curtains. Dust mites give off
particles that cause allergic reactions. To control dust and dust
mites: bedding should be washed on weekly basis in hot water; down
comforters should be avoided; replace curtains with plastic blinds;
place pillows and mattresses in dust-mite-impermeable protective cases.
-
Eliminate pets from
the house.
Dead skin flakes, urine, feces, and saliva from pets and animals with
hair or feathers can trigger asthma. The most recommended method
to prevent asthma attacks due to pets is to remove them from the home.
If that is not possible, some people find isolating the pet to one area
of the house (not the bedroom) to adequately control attacks.
-
Avoid cigarette smoke.
If you smoke, try to quit. Secondhand smoke can make asthma more
sever in people who have asthma and is also a risk factor for new cases
of asthma. The smoke irritates the chronically inflamed airways of
asthma sufferers. Many of the health effects of secondhand smoke
(including asthma) are most clearly manifested in children. This is
because children are particularly vulnerable to secondhand smoke. This
is likely due to several factors, including the fact that children are
still developing physically, have higher breathing rates than adults,
and have little control over their indoor environments. Children
receiving high doses of secondhand smoke, such as those with smoking
mothers, run the greatest relative risk of experiencing damaging health
effects.
-
Avoid molds.
Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce, just as plants produce seeds.
Mold spores waft through the indoor and outdoor air continually. When
mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and
digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive. Molds can be
found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance when
moisture is present. To prevent and control molds: maintain low
indoor humidity; prevent leaking or standing water in the home; use drip
pans in appliances that use water, such as the dishwasher and air
conditioner. If you find mold in your home, wash it off of hard
surfaces and dry completely. Some materials may have to be
replaced.
-
Avoid cockroaches.
This may be surprising, but cockroach feces and saliva cause allergic
reactions and/or trigger asthma symptoms in many individuals.
Decreasing exposure to cockroaches in the home
can help reduce asthma attacks. Cockroaches are commonly
found in crowded cities and the southern United States. However,
many of the environmental requirements of cockroaches (i.e., high
humidity, warmth, and food sources) can be found in the typical home.
In order to prevent and control cockroaches: do not leave food or
garbage out, clean all food crumbs and spilled liquids right away, clean
dishes as soon as you are done using them, prevent leaking or standing
water in the home.
Unfortunately, eliminating the above triggers cannot eliminate all
asthma attacks. It is important to follow the treatment plan of
your PMP. You should discuss an emergency plan and what to do in
certain situations with your individual PMP.
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