Don’t Let Asthma
Slow You Down
Start controlling your asthma today
Asthma is a serious lung
disease that affects 23
million people in the
United States. Over 50%
of those with asthma
experience at least 1
asthma attack each year
leading to nearly 1.7
million emergency room
visits annually.
What is asthma?
Causes
It’s a chronic lung disease that
makes it hard to move air in and
out of the lungs. Many people
describe an asthma attack “like
breathing through a straw.” The 2
main components of asthma that
make it hard to breathe are:
Doctors are uncertain what
causes asthma but they believe
it’s the result of a combination
of factors including family genes
and environment. For example,
you may be more likely to
develop asthma if you have:
●
●
Inflammation of the airway
linings.
Airway constriction caused
by tightening of the muscles
surrounding them.
How is asthma
diagnosed?
To diagnose asthma, and
distinguish it from other lung
disorders, physicians rely on a
combination of medical history,
●
●
●
A family history of asthma.
A personal medical history of
allergies.
Exposure to irritants or
chemicals in the workplace.
physical examinations, and
laboratory tests, which may
include:
●
Spirometry. A spirometer is
a device used to assess lung
function.
Although asthma can occur at any
age, it most often begins early in life.
Symptoms
While the symptoms of
asthma are different for each
individual, most people with
asthma experience 1 or more of
the following:
●
Coughing
●
Wheezing
●
Chest tightness
●
Shortness of breath
●
Peak flow monitoring (PFM).
A device used to measure the
fastest speed air can blow out of
the lungs.
●
Chest x-ray.
●
Allergy tests.
Don’t Let Asthma Slow You Down: Start controlling your asthma today
Treatment
A chronic condition like asthma
requires consistent monitoring.
Depending on the severity of
your asthma, it may mean taking
medication and monitoring your
breathing daily. The good news is
asthma can be controlled by taking
your medications, managing your
asthma and avoiding the triggers
that cause attacks.
Medication
There are 2 types of asthma
medications used to treat asthma.
Although the goal of both
medications is to treat asthma
symptoms, they are used for
different purposes.
●
●
Long-term control medication
— usually taken every day to
control asthma symptoms and
to prevent the occurrence of
asthma attacks.
Short-term, quick-relief
medication — primarily taken
to relieve the sudden onset of
asthma symptoms (such as
during an asthma attack).
Identify your triggers and learn
how to avoid them. Triggers are
things that irritate the airways
and cause them to swell.
Triggers also cause the muscles
in your airways to constrict,
making it hard to breathe.
Common triggers include:
●
Working with your
doctor will give you
the tools you need to
control your asthma
and enjoy your life.
The type of medication
prescribed by your physician
to treat your asthma symptoms
depends on the type and severity
of the asthma, as well as other
individual medical needs.
Monitoring and Management
One of the best ways to manage
your asthma symptoms is to
develop an asthma action plan. A
written asthma action plan teaches
you how to manage an asthma
attack. By working with your
doctor, you can develop an action
plan that works best for you.
A good asthma action plan will
help you:
●
Know your warning signs
for an approaching asthma
episode and how to adjust
your medications in response
to your symptoms.
– Pollens and molds
– House dust mites
– Animal dander
– Tobacco and wood smoke
– Weather changes
Interpret your peak flow meter
levels.
●
Use your inhaler and
medications properly.
●
Make exercise a part of your
daily routine.
●
Managing your asthma may
sound like it’s a lot to learn and
do. But over time, it becomes a
routine part of your life. And,
keeping your asthma under
control helps make sure it doesn’t
keep you away from the activities
you enjoy.
RESOURCES:
For more information, visit our online Asthma Center at www.carefirst.com/asthma.
The American Lung
Association of Maryland, Inc.
www.lungusa.org
800-492-7527
National Heart, Lung and
Blood Institute
www.nhlbi.org
301-951-3260
Asthma and Allergy
Foundation of America
www.aafa.org
800-727-8462
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is the shared business name of CareFirst of Maryland, Inc. and Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and CareFirst BlueChoice, Inc. are both independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
® Registered trademark of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®´ Registered trademark of CareFirst of Maryland, Inc.
BRC6127-1P (10/11)