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Asthma

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Asthma is a chronic disease of the lungs that can be life threatening OR a problem that comes and goes, causing coughing and frequent upper respiratory infections. Many children have asthma that has never been diagnosed because parents think the chronic cough and frequent colds are normal. Asthma can be controlled - but the patient & family must be involved in the care.

Symptoms of asthma may include:

• Chronic cough, especially at night.
• Coughing when exercising or when resting afterwards.
• Shortness of breath.
• Wheezing.
• Tightness in the chest.

Things that cause an asthma attack are called “triggers” and include:

• Smoke - especially cigarette or wood smoke; also air pollution.
• Pollen and allergies - many people have more problems with asthma during "hay fever" season.
• Dust mites, cockroach droppings, pet dander.
• Cold air.
• Exercise, especially in cold air - this is called "exercise-induced asthma."

Learn what your triggers are and try to avoid them, or treat the asthma when you are about to be exposed to a trigger. For exercise-induced asthma, use your bronchodilator inhaler (e.g., albuterol) before exercise. If hay fever is a trigger, start the hay fever medicine as soon as hay fever season begins. No smoking!

Treatment of asthma

Short-acting bronchodilators like albuterol inhalers control symptoms by opening the lungs. They are used when symptoms (cough, wheezing) become a problem. They have a fast effect on symptoms. If you need to use this type of inhaler more than two days/week, you may also need to use a second type of inhaler

Anti-inflammatory inhalers (corticosteroid) like Flovent, Advair, Pulmicort, and others are used every day to prevent the symptoms from starting. They have a slow effect on symptoms. If this medicine does not prevent symptoms and you still need to use the other (short-acting bronchodilator) medicine more than twice/week, you should tell your doctor or nurse practitioner because you may need a stronger inhaler.

Other medicines are available, but are not used as often. Other medicines that work include Intal, Singulair, Accolate and prednisone. Medicines that do not work well include regular cough medicine (Robitussin, NyQuil, etc.) and over-the-counter inhalers such as Primatene or Azmahaler.

If you smoke and you or your child has asthma, you should quit. Smoking makes asthma worse.

Your doctor or nurse practitioner may give you medications for your asthma. Follow the directions for taking them. Return to the clinic for a refill before you run out of your asthma medication. Go to the emergency room if you cannot breathe.

Daisy Snyder