Asthma is a chronic lung disease that can make breathing difficult. There is
no cure for asthma, but it can be managed. With good asthma management, you
should be able to live almost symptom-free and enjoy an active life. You can
manage your asthma symptoms by:
- knowing your triggers and avoiding them
- having a written asthma action plan
- learning how to use medications properly
- working with a Certified Asthma Educator to learn about asthma control.
The goal of asthma management is no asthma symptoms (for example, wheezing,
coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath).
Good asthma management means:
- no missed days of school or work because of asthma symptoms
- normal physical activity
- no night-time or early morning symptoms that disturb sleep
- not having to take asthma reliever medicine (the blue puffer) more
than four times a week, except before exercising.
Know the warning signs of poor asthma control
For many people, asthma symptoms get worse slowly. By knowing the early warning
signs of poor asthma control, you can help to prevent a major breathing emergency.
It’s important to keep in mind that asthma symptoms are not the same for
everyone and symptoms may change over time.
To understand the difference between good asthma management and poor asthma
management, ask yourself the following questions:
- When you sleep, do you wake yourself up with coughing, wheezing or
shortness of breath?
- Do you have asthma symptoms when you wake up in the morning?
- Does your reliever inhaler (blue puffer) quickly and completely relieve
your asthma symptoms?
- Aside from exercise, do you use your reliever inhaler more than 3-4
times a week?
- Do your asthma symptoms stop you from doing regular activities like
exercise?
If you answered, "yes" to any of these questions, see your doctor.
Your doctor can help you get control of your asthma. Take a copy of the asthma
action plan and asthma diary card to your doctor. Ask for help in filling these
out.
Where to find help
Certified Asthma Educators can help you learn how to avoid
your asthma triggers, show you how to use your medications properly and teach
you how to recognize the warning signs of worsening asthma control. To find
a Certified Asthma Educator near you, contact The Lung Association in your province
at info@lung.ca or at 1-888-566-5864.
Further information:
People sometimes use asthma devices like spacers and inhalers (puffers) incorrectly,
and this means not all the medicine is getting to the lungs. For photos, demonstrations
and printable instruction on how to use devices see: Devices/Demos
You
can manage your child's asthma
Explains what asthma is, what sets off a child's asthma, and what steps are
needed to maintain good asthma control. List parenting tips to help children
and teenagers cope with asthma. Prepared by The Lung Association, the CHN Respiratory
Diseases Affiliate.
Source: Canadian Health Network
(CHN) From: Partner
feature of the month: archives
What
is asthma?
Gives basic facts about asthma: its symptoms, how people get
it, and how to control it. Written in plain language.
Source: The Children's
Asthma Education Centre (CAEC)
Your
lungs: asthma control: work with your doctor
Advises people with asthma to work in partnership with their doctor by asking
questions and making their concerns known. Argues that communicating well with
the doctor leads to better asthma control.
Source: Ontario Lung Association
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