| About one in 15 people has asthma, a chronic | | | | tests |
| condition whose symptoms are attacks of wheezing, | | | | Preventing an Asthma Attack |
| breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. There | | | | House dust exposure can be lessened by using bare |
| is no cure for asthma, but most people can control | | | | floors, vacuuming frequently, and changing furnace |
| the condition and lead normal, active lives. | | | | and air cooler filters frequently. You should avoid |
| Different things set off asthma attacks in different | | | | using feather, wool, or foam bedding. Use polyester |
| people. Smoke from cigarettes or a fire, air pollution, | | | | pillows and plastic covers over your mattress. |
| cold air, pollen, animals, house dust, molds, strong | | | | It's important to avoid all triggers to prevent having |
| smells such as perfume or bus exhaust, wood dust, | | | | an asthma attack. Below are resources to help you |
| exercise, industrial chemicals--all can trigger an attack. | | | | manage asthma, tips to help you recognize an |
| Asthma cannot be cured, but most people with | | | | asthma attack and advice on planning ahead. |
| asthma can control it so that they have few and | | | | The best way to prevent an asthma attack is to |
| infrequent symptoms and can live active lives. | | | | avoid your triggers as much as possible. It's also |
| Asthma attacks are not all the same—some are | | | | important to learn how to recognize what might be |
| worse than others. In a severe asthma attack, the | | | | known as your "early warning signs" of an impending |
| airways can close so much that not enough oxygen | | | | asthma attack. These are symptoms that happen |
| gets to vital organs. This condition is a medical | | | | just before an asthma attack begins. They tell you |
| emergency. People can die from severe asthma | | | | that your condition is about to worsen,or get out of |
| attacks. | | | | control. |
| Taking care of your asthma is an important part of | | | | They might include things such as a frequent cough, |
| your life. Controlling it means working closely with | | | | especially during the nighttime hours, getting short of |
| your doctor to learn what to do, staying away from | | | | breath more easily, increased peak flow meter |
| things that bother your airways, taking medicines as | | | | readings, feeling extra tired when you're active, a |
| directed by your doctor, and monitoring your asthma | | | | change in mood toward the negative, and trouble |
| so that you can respond quickly to signs of an | | | | sleeping. You might also notice signs of a cold, such |
| attack. By controlling your asthma every day, you | | | | as nasal stuffiness, sore throat, sneezing, or runny |
| can prevent serious symptoms and take part in all | | | | nose. If you notice any of these symptoms, take |
| activities. | | | | action quickly to prevent an asthma attack. |
| Asthma Symptoms | | | | Regular physical activity is important for good health. |
| • wheezing | | | | Keep your environment clear of potential allergens. |
| • shortness of breath or trouble breathing | | | | Don’t smoke because smoking is always a bad |
| • coughing, either during the day or at night, but | | | | idea for the lungs. Cromolyn and nedocromil, which |
| often worse at night and with exercise and activity | | | | are used to treat mild persistent asthma. |
| • chest pain or chest tightness | | | | Theophylline, which is used either alone to treat mild |
| • decreases in your child's usual or predicted peak | | | | persistent asthma Leukotriene modifiers, which are |
| flow or poor performance on pulmonary function | | | | used either alone to treat mild persistent asthma. |