News
ENLARGE
Summer is almost here and it's the perfect time of year to go outdoors, whether to the park or the river. This may not seem like a big deal to some, but if you or your child has asthma, it can be a different story.
Preparation is key to spending a day in an unknown and uncontrolled environment where you could encounter asthma triggers, whether indoors or outdoors. Common triggers include dust, mold, exercise, pollen, animal dander, stress, chemicals, changing weather and secondhand smoke.
Secondhand smoke is especially dangerous to people with asthma. Not only can it trigger an attack, but also scientists believe it can also contribute to the development of asthma in young children. Avoiding secondhand smoke outdoors is important, but it's even more vital that adults do not smoke indoors when children or others are present.
Studies have shown that a child who lives in a household with an adult who smokes experiences asthma flare-ups more often, is more likely to have severe attacks, take more asthma medication and experience attacks that are harder to control with medication. While eliminating smoke from the home does not always help prevent asthma, it can help control the severity of symptoms and prevent attacks from occurring for people who already have asthma.
Symptoms of an asthma attack can be as diverse as the cause of it. Symptoms can include a cough with or without phlegm, shortness of breath that gets worse with activity, wheezing, abnormal breathing patterns and tightness in the chest. Any of these symptoms alone or in combination with one another could be a sign of an asthma attack. If you or your child has experienced any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about what treatment options are available.
Additionally, if you experience extreme difficulty breathing, rapid pulse, severe anxiety due to shortness of breath, or bluish lips and face, you should seek emergency treatment right away regardless of whether you have asthma.
If your doctor determines you have asthma, he or she will help develop a treatment plan for your condition. Treatment often includes daily medications such as inhalants to prevent inflammation and long-acting bronchodilators to help open your airways. It can also consist of rescue medications that provide quick relief in the event of an asthma attack. And treatment plans should always include a plan to identify triggers and avoid them in order to reduce your risk of suffering an asthma attack.
There are numerous treatments available for people who have asthma, but as of now there is no cure. Asthma is a disease that requires knowledge and preparation by both the person who has it, as well as those who may be present when an asthma attack occurs. If you or someone you know is experiencing asthma symptoms, talk to your doctor about testing, diagnosis and treatment. It could save your life.
Dr. Alpana Chandra is a board-certified Roseburg pulmonologist who specializes in critical care. She is a member of DCIPA, The Physicians of Douglas County. If there's a health care topic you would like to see covered, please contact Dan Hern at dhern@dcipa.com.
Preparation is key to spending a day in an unknown and uncontrolled environment where you could encounter asthma triggers, whether indoors or outdoors. Common triggers include dust, mold, exercise, pollen, animal dander, stress, chemicals, changing weather and secondhand smoke.
Secondhand smoke is especially dangerous to people with asthma. Not only can it trigger an attack, but also scientists believe it can also contribute to the development of asthma in young children. Avoiding secondhand smoke outdoors is important, but it's even more vital that adults do not smoke indoors when children or others are present.
Studies have shown that a child who lives in a household with an adult who smokes experiences asthma flare-ups more often, is more likely to have severe attacks, take more asthma medication and experience attacks that are harder to control with medication. While eliminating smoke from the home does not always help prevent asthma, it can help control the severity of symptoms and prevent attacks from occurring for people who already have asthma.
Symptoms of an asthma attack can be as diverse as the cause of it. Symptoms can include a cough with or without phlegm, shortness of breath that gets worse with activity, wheezing, abnormal breathing patterns and tightness in the chest. Any of these symptoms alone or in combination with one another could be a sign of an asthma attack. If you or your child has experienced any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor about what treatment options are available.
Additionally, if you experience extreme difficulty breathing, rapid pulse, severe anxiety due to shortness of breath, or bluish lips and face, you should seek emergency treatment right away regardless of whether you have asthma.
If your doctor determines you have asthma, he or she will help develop a treatment plan for your condition. Treatment often includes daily medications such as inhalants to prevent inflammation and long-acting bronchodilators to help open your airways. It can also consist of rescue medications that provide quick relief in the event of an asthma attack. And treatment plans should always include a plan to identify triggers and avoid them in order to reduce your risk of suffering an asthma attack.
There are numerous treatments available for people who have asthma, but as of now there is no cure. Asthma is a disease that requires knowledge and preparation by both the person who has it, as well as those who may be present when an asthma attack occurs. If you or someone you know is experiencing asthma symptoms, talk to your doctor about testing, diagnosis and treatment. It could save your life.
Dr. Alpana Chandra is a board-certified Roseburg pulmonologist who specializes in critical care. She is a member of DCIPA, The Physicians of Douglas County. If there's a health care topic you would like to see covered, please contact Dan Hern at dhern@dcipa.com.
