If you suffer from asthma, you know all too well that the disease is with you to stay. But there are some simple, yet important, steps you can take to keep this condition well controlled in order to stop the symptoms from kicking in and taking you out of the game.
Asthma 101
As many as 20 million Americans have asthma today, reports the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. And as AAFA explains, some people’s symptoms are triggered by allergens, such as pollen, mold dust mites, grass and animals, while others are of a non-allergic type and result from factors like stress, exercise, smoke and illness. Knowing what causes your airways to react can be important to keeping the management of your condition on track.
Take Control
Public health advocates explain once you are diagnosed with this condition, you will have to grapple with the effects for the rest of your life. But this does not have to be an overwhelming situation, since many people live well with asthma every day. One important way to manage your health is to sit down with your doctor to create an Asthma Management Plan, which is a written document that touches on several key areas to guide you on how to control the condition and head off potential complications before they hit.
Avoid Triggers
An effective asthma management plan should identify your triggers and look at possible scenarios that could set your symptoms in motion. It should also give you alternatives that would be safer for you. By recognizing these factors, you can make educated decisions that will likely keep your symptoms at bay.
Manage Your Symptoms
Your asthma management plan should also list your medication and what to take when. Likely your doctor will prescribe a combination of approaches, including inhaled steroids to correct and prevent inflamed airways, a fast-acting relief inhaler to manage an attack and if needed, an inhaler to head off asthma symptoms caused by exercise.
Monitor Your Condition
Most asthma management plans will encourage you to monitor and track your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend a peak flow meter, which is a device that measures your lung functioning and lets you know when it starts to decline so you can react accordingly to head off an attack. He or she may also suggest you record your readings so you can see any changes and patterns that may indicate the need for a change in your daily management plan.
Emergency Response
Finally, your plan should touch on some possible emergency situations and direct you on how to respond under different circumstances. This should cover the basics, such as how much medication to take in different serious situations, and when to seek emergency medical care.
While you can’t get rid of your asthma for good, if you partner with your doctor to take control of the condition, you can indeed keep it well managed and prevent the symptoms from interfering with your day.
