Help for managing your Asthma

Here are a few links to help you with a little research of your own:

• http://www.cdc.gov/asthma/management.html
  
  
  
• http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/asthma/taking-control-of-asthma/
  
  
  
• http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/lungs/asthma_mgmt.html

I didn't want to post a full bibliography, so we'll start with those few. There are so many resources for everyone, whether you are a health care provider or someone who is learning about Asthma for the first time, as a patient. My goal is to provide ease of receiving information, which will ultimately allow for improvement of self management. We will talk about Asthma as a chronic pulmonary disease and Asthma as an allergic reaction. Your Pulmonary Medical Team will discuss with you, the many tools and medications available to fit your specific classification of Asthma. You can refer to my first Asthma post, "Asthma Kills", to learn the basics of Asthma Classifications. I chose that title strictly for the purpose of shocking everyone into truly paying attention. Your health is nothing to play with. People with Asthma can lead very active lives, depending on severity and management.
In diagnosing Asthma, your physician will ask you questions which will help determine:

• If you actually have asthma
  
  
  
• What are your Asthma "triggers"
  
  
  
• If you have nocturnal (nighttime) awakenings
  
  
  
• What are your symptoms - (wheezing, persistent cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath/"dyspnea", recurrent "episodes" related to specific triggers, etc.)
  
  
  
• How you respond to Asthma specific therapy
  
  

As health care providers, we categorize these symptoms to determine how they fit into the 4 Asthma classifications. As an airway inflammatory disorder, Asthma will definitely cause you to experience most or all of these symptoms. This is where assessing your lung function with a series of tests come in handy. The moment your primary physician becomes aware of your symptoms, he/she should talk to you about Asthma education and making an appointment with a Pulmonologist, referrals are always welcome!
FYI: In addressing Allergies & Asthma data show:

• There are more than 15 Million asthmatics in America
  
  
  
• 85% react with positive skin tests to specific allergens
  
  
  
• Allergic disease is as common and Hypertension & Diabetes combined

Asthma Triggers
Asthma presents either as a genetic disorder or a response to environmental factors. Genetically, we look at specific tests and parental/familial history. In assessing environmental triggers, the irritants are numerous. There are allergens, diet, air pollutions, tobacco smoke, infections, pests, pets, etc. Be completely open and honest about your living environment when discussing symptoms with your physician and/or medical team.
I promised to discuss medications prescribed for both, management of Asthma and of Diabetes. This will be done in a separate blog.
Next Asthma blog, we will talk more about environmental triggers and lifestyle modification!