May 16, 2024
Asthma Awareness Month
May is Asthma Awareness Month and a good time to review and learn more about this chronic lung condition that afflicts 1 in 13 people in the United States. Asthma is a serious disease that can be life-threatening. Anyone can have asthma – people of all ethnic groups, genders, age groups, and city or rural dwellers. It is generally believed that developing asthma is based on family history and environmental factors. Once you have been diagnosed with asthma, you will have the disease for the rest of your life; but with proper care, you can lead a healthy, productive, fully active life.
While there is currently no cure for asthma, treatment and an asthma action plan can help those suffering from the disease, manage the condition. The plan may include monitoring, avoiding triggers, and using medicines.
Diagnosis and Preventing Asthma Attacks
If you think that you or your child may have asthma, reach out to you Primary Care Provider (PCP). Your PCP will talk with you about asthma triggers (e.g., pollen, exercise, viral infections, mold, dust mites that live on blankets, pillows or stuffed animals, cold air). These triggers can cause worsening symptoms which can lead to an asthma attack. Asthma attacks can be a frightening experience. During an asthma attack, the airways become inflamed and narrowed, making it harder for air to flow out so avoiding triggers is an important step in living with asthma.
You might be surprised by the list of common environmental asthma triggers, and how simple it can be to reduce their impact and eliminate them from your environment. In addition to this step of getting rid of triggers, your provider will also talk with you about a medication regimen.
Asthma Action Plan
Ask your provider to help you create an asthma action plan to prevent asthma attacks. An asthma action plan will help you control asthma on a regular basis. Use this plan together with your provider to write down ways to manage asthma, both on a routine daily basis and during an attack.
If you are looking for a Primary Care Provider, please click on this link to be connected to a complete list of Fort HealthCare Providers.